Missouri Students Push for Opioid Overdose Antidote in Dorms

A University of Missouri student group is pushing to make an opioid overdose-reversal medication available at campus residence halls.

Anthony Garcia is director of policy and advocacy for the Missouri Students Association. Garcia tells the Columbia Missourian that it would cost the university $3,000 every two years to put Narcan nasal sprays in every residence hall.

Naloxone, the overdose-reversal drug sold under brand name Narcan, usually lasts between 60 and 90 minutes, giving first responders time to arrive and take a person to a hospital.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse says Missouri had 952 overdose deaths involving opioids in 2017.

Garcia plans to meet with university health, law enforcement and residential life officials to discuss implementing the plan in the coming weeks.