UWM’s strong foundation of evidence-based prevention and education around alcohol and drug misuse has helped the campus respond to the opioid overdose epidemic. From confidential screenings and treatment to policy enforcement and healthy environments, UWM continues to adapt to students’ needs. Here is a summary of strategies UWM has developed to keep the campus community safe and healthy:
- First-year and transfer students younger than 21 take a mandatory 90-minute online alcohol and other drug education program before the start of classes. Students receive content on polysubstance use and how to recognize and respond to an overdose. Before completing the program, students must acknowledge they’ve read UWM’s ‘assistance’ policy, which offers some amnesty for students who call for help in situations involving alcohol or other drugs.
- UWM regularly communicates to students about opioids, counterfeit and laced drugs, overdose, harm reduction strategies, resources for help, and the university’s assistance policy.
- UWM has partnered with Wisconsin Voices for Recovery to provide free access to naloxone/Narcan (a safe medication that can reverse an opioid overdose) to members of the community. Twenty-one Nalox-ZONE boxes have been installed across UWM campuses. Training on how to administer Narcan is available to students, faculty and staff.
- At the start of the 2022-23 academic year, over 1,500 new residential students voluntarily participated in a pilot program, ‘Real Talk: How to Thrive in Your Community,’ which included a skills-building session on how to recognize and respond to an overdose. UWM has since extended the reach of this important information by incorporating it into Panther Transition Day, which is required for all first-year students.
- UWM partners with the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy and the Milwaukee Health Department to regularly hold booths on campus where students and community members can learn about fentanyl, prescription drug safety, counterfeit and laced drugs, and harm reduction strategies. Free fentanyl test strips and Narcan are given out while supplies last.
- UWM’s ‘Save a Life’ magnet, which details how to recognize and respond to overdose, includes where to get free Narcan on and around campus and a reminder about UWM’s assistance policy. Magnets are available to students at the Student Health and Wellness Center and thousands are distributed around campus at various events throughout the year.
- UWM’s bystander intervention training for students on how to recognize and respond to an alcohol or other drug overdose includes information on why, when, and how to give Narcan. Visit the You Can Help! Stop Overdose web page to request training for your student group.
- Introduced in 2022, the annual ‘Spring Break Pre-Games’ program features an interactive, competitive format to learn about the risks of fentanyl, polysubstance use, counterfeit and laced drugs, Narcan, mixing alcohol and other drugs, and recognizing and responding to an overdose.
- The Student Health and Wellness Center has teamed up with UWM Police’s “Coffee with a Cop” program to increase awareness of fentanyl, counterfeit pills and overdose prevention.
- The Student Association (SA) hosted an ‘Alcohol & Drug Safety Awareness’ event in March 2023, featuring a wide variety of speakers to raise awareness and understanding of the opioid epidemic, harm reduction strategies, how to recognize and respond to overdose, and resources for support for anyone who is struggling with substance use. In October 2023, SA hosted a week of events focused on building community among students in recovery and/or living a sober lifestyle, including a resource fair and campfire to share stories of recovery and sobriety.
- Panther Transition Training includes a module on the relationship between alcohol and drug use and academic performance, including information on the misuse of prescription drugs.
- UWM offers fentanyl test strips to students for free at the Student Health and Wellness Center dispensary.
Updated February 2024