Medical students lead Narcan training at MU

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Editor's Note: A name was corrected in this article

Two University of Missouri medical students trained more than 100 students Thursday on how to use naloxone in the case of suspected overdoses.

The two medical students from psychiatry and public health medicine groups on campus teamed with personnel from the Columbia/Boone County Health Department to put on the event, which was held on the university's campus.

Jaxsen Ball -- one of the organizers of the event -- said he decided to put effort into educating people on how to administer Narcan after losing his brother in the summer of 2022.

"I said if he's gonna die, and I can't stop that like he's gone, I need to find something that's gonna make that mean something for me," Ball said.

The FDA recently approved the sale of over-the-counter naloxone -- also known by its brand name Narcan -- nasal spray as the country's opioid overdose problem continues.

Heather Harlan, Community Health Education of the Columbia/Boone County Department of Health and Human Services, thinks this could possibly make naloxone more accessible for people to be able to carry the spray. Harlan noted that the department is still, however, working to figure out if it will be affordable for all people in the community.

"We really don't know," Harlan said. "It's a continued situation. We're monitoring it, we're asking our funders about how it will, and we're looking into what may happen."

Harlan also said the over-the-counter sales likely will not start until the summer.

Harlan said the issue of overdoses has extended to the university's campus, and added that the biggest concern currently among the health department is students encountering pills that contain fentanyl.

"If it's not prescribed for them, it potentially could have fentanyl," Harlan said. "So we want to be aware that students of all ages are at risk for this."

According to state data, there were 1,581 opioid overdose deaths in 2021. This is a slight increase from 2020, when there were 1,375 confirmed deaths resulting from opioid overdoses. Boone County logged 52 overdose deaths in 2021, with most of those associated with opioids.

Harlan said the Health Department and Boone County coalition will continue to have monthly events called "Save a Life," where people can receive naloxone and learn how to administer the spray.

Ball also said he will continue to make sure all people are aware of the severity of opioid overdoses, and ensure all people know how to administer naloxone .

"If I can help someone like him, just one person, just one person learn how to help someone like him, then I've done my job," Ball said.