Opioid Overdose Prevention

Public Health Updates

Tompkins County Whole Health (TCHW) recently alerted the community about opioid overdose deaths in the county, and shared that local drug testing indicated that nearly all illicit/street drugs in the county were contaminated with Fentanyl and/or Xylazine.

Opioid overdoses are often preventable. While opioid use is uncommon at Cornell, it's important for every community member to be familiar with overdose prevention resources. 

Cornell Health resources & support

Free Nalozone (Narcan), testing strips, & training 

The Cornell Health Pharmacy began an Opioid Overdose Prevention Program (OOPP) in 2023, enabling our pharmacy staff to support the Cornell community by providing the following:

  • Naloxone spray (Narcan®): Available at no cost in the following on-campus locations:
    • our 24/7 self-care vending machine just inside our Ho Plaza entrance
    • the vending machine on the ground level of RPCC
    • the vending machine inside the entrance of Mann Library
    • the vending machine inside the entrance of Upson Hall
  • Fentanyl and Xylazine testing strips: Available at no cost in the Cornell Health pharmacy. (Please ask at the pharmacy counter: due to current legislation, testing strips must be dispensed by health services staff.)
  • Naloxone / Narcan training: Cornell Health Pharmacy staff partner with Cornell's Division of Public Safety to provide Naloxone / Narcan awareness and trainings on campus. Each individual who attends the training receives an emergency overdose kit with two free naloxone nasal sprays. Use this program request form to request a training.

See the Safe Project's 5-minute opioid overdose response training video, below. 

CAPS support 

Additionally, our Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) staff provide Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) services for students struggling with use. 

When to call for help

If you think someone is having an adverse reaction to a drug, or if they have sustained a head injury while drinking or using other drugs, it is imperative you call 911. Know the ABCD signs requiring emergency medical attention. 

Under Cornell’s Good Samaritan Protocol (“Good Sam”), those who call for help – and those who receive help – in an alcohol- or drug-related emergency are protected from judicial consequences. 

5-minute opioid overdose response training

We recommend the following training video, developed by the SAFE Project, to learn how to respond to an opioid overdose and how to administer Naloxone.