Long Beach City College recently had its first Narcan 101 Workshop at the Pacific Coast Campus during which faculty were trained on how to administer the medicine which counteracts opioid overdoses.
It’s a small step toward implementing protocols for potentially life-saving measures.
In 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill now mandating that all college campuses require Narcan to be available if needed. Usually meaning that Narcan is available in Health Offices, or somewhere else on campus.
However Student Life Coordinator Joseph Polanco wants to take this one step further.
Polanco is working on making it required for all faculty to be trained on how to use Narcan and for there to be a pack of Narcan in every classroom.
“I would have to hurry up and get every one trained this year,” Polanco stated when he was asked by an attendee if and how the protocol for staff would change at LBCC.
The workshop was led by Eduardo Flores An employee at the Tarzana Treatment Center.
The Tarzana Treatment Center has partnered with LBCC to have these workshops throughout the entire semester for students and faculty alike.
The workshop covers many different things in a short amount of time. The attendees learn about the reasons why Narcan is something that everyone should know how to use.
“We are all a part of a society that should work together to help every individual,” Flores said.
The workshop also covers how to use the Narcan, what are the warning signs for an overdose, and what to say to 911 dispatchers so that medical attention is sent instead of the police for those who might not feel comfortable or safe with the presence of law enforcement.
At the end of the workshop Narcan was available for the attendees to take and to have on their person so they were prepared.
Unfortunately, the workshop was not well attended with only one attendee showing up. Students that were at PCC at the time weren’t aware of the event.
“I wish there was more public knowledge about the workshop, overdosing doesn’t have an age requirement. We should all learn about it,” LBCC student Jae Huang said after being told about the workshop.
Multiple Narcan workshops are being held throughout the semester, both at PCC and LAC.
See LBCC’s website and look under the upcoming events for the different workshops this semester.