The University of Kansas Student Senate has voted overwhelmingly to make Narcan (naloxone) training compulsory for all university staff, faculty, and campus employees, marking a significant shift in how institutions are responding to the opioid crisis among young adults. The Senate passed the resolution on March 11, 2026, with a vote of 34 to 2, calling on the university's administration to roll out structured naloxone training so non-medical personnel can respond confidently during an opioid emergency .

Why Is Narcan Training Becoming Mandatory on College Campuses?

The push for mandatory training stems from a very real and present danger. Kansas recorded 349 opioid overdose deaths in 2024, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, though this figure dropped from the previous year . The resolution was authored by Engineering Student Council Senator Evanna Dominic, who emphasized the urgency of the issue.

"I think with the growing issues of fentanyl, like things being laced, I think it's just really important to kind of know how to go about it the right way," Dominic said.

Evanna Dominic, Engineering Student Council Senator, University of Kansas

Many opioid overdose deaths are entirely accidental, including cases tied to prescription medications. Pharmacy Senator Jeff Brooker, who co-sponsored the resolution, stressed that stigma is one of the biggest barriers stopping people from accepting naloxone in the first place. In community pharmacy settings, people receiving prescription opioids sometimes turn down Narcan because they don't want to be perceived as misusing drugs .

What Would the Narcan Training Program Actually Cover?

The proposed program would teach staff how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose, administer naloxone nasal spray correctly, and know when to contact Emergency Medical Services. Participants would also learn about Good Samaritan legal protections, which shield people from liability when they help someone in an overdose emergency. Those who have experienced overdose or medical trauma could opt out of the training .

Recognizing the warning signs of an overdose is critical because it can mean the difference between life and death. Common signs include slow or shallow breathing, blue-tinged lips or fingernails, pinpoint pupils, and unresponsiveness. That bluish discoloration can help distinguish an overdose from other emergencies like a concussion .

How to Recognize and Respond to an Opioid Overdose

• Breathing Changes: Look for slow, shallow, or labored breathing, which is one of the most critical warning signs of opioid overdose.
• Physical Appearance: Watch for blue-tinged lips or fingernails, pinpoint pupils (very small pupils), and unresponsiveness or difficulty waking the person.
• Immediate Action: Call Emergency Medical Services right away and administer naloxone nasal spray if available, as it can reverse the effects of opioids within minutes.
• Legal Protection: Know that Good Samaritan laws protect people who help someone experiencing an overdose from criminal liability in most states.

Pharmacy Senator Fisher Mosier emphasized that broader Narcan training matters far beyond medical professionals. "We are well within and constantly surrounded by people who use recreational drugs," Brooker said. "The more people that know how to identify things like an opioid overdose and when to administer Narcan, the better" .

Where Can Students and Staff Access Naloxone?

Narcan is already widely available across Lawrence, Kansas. Vending machines stocked with naloxone kits are located at the Lawrence Transit Central Station, Lawrence Community Shelter, Homeless Resource Center, and Heartland Community Health Center. Students at the University of Kansas can purchase naloxone at Watkins Pharmacy or pick up a kit from the Health Education Resource Office (HERO) on campus. Brooker advised everyone to check expiration dates and keep doses within easy reach .

Beyond the Senate vote, Senator Dominic took practical steps to build momentum. On March 28, she organized a community workshop titled "Educating to Save Lives," which brought together the KU Health Education Resource Office, Douglas County Citizens Committee on Alcoholism, and KU pharmacy students. Attendees watched live demonstrations on how to use Narcan and fentanyl test strips .

Those behind the resolution believe Chancellor Doug Girod will support the initiative. His background as a surgeon and former dean of the KU School of Medicine gives them confidence he understands the stakes. "People with medical training can't be everywhere like all the time all at once," Mosier said. "Educating the general public really can help prevent more overdose deaths" .

If the University of Kansas adopts the program, it will join a growing number of institutions nationwide that treat naloxone training as a core part of campus safety. Sometimes the most important first responder is simply the person standing closest when an overdose occurs.