State Opioid Response – Higher Education Community Outreach Grant

Geographic Scope: Oklahoma (statewide); NOC partnership with Northwestern Oklahoma State University

Funder: Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services via State Regents for Higher Education

Total Available Funding: $250,000 across five Oklahoma colleges and universities

Focus Areas:

• Prevention of opioid misuse on campuses
• Referral services for treatment
• Support for students needing addiction recovery services

Program Components:

• Outreach, engagement, and evidence-based prevention services
• Health education and promotion
• Community consultation
• Focus on general student population and at-risk students (opioid misuse, opioid disorder, opioid overdose)
• Development and maintenance of online resources for opioid abuse prevention and treatment
• Training for faculty, staff, and students in:
  • Prevention and treatment of opioid misuse and overdose
  • Naloxone administration
  • Access to treatment services
  • Recognition and response to opioid overdose
  • Safe storage and disposal of opioids
• Peer health educator training and campus-based student training
• Tribal connections and community resource partnerships

Context: Oklahoma ranks 6th nationally in opioid prescriptions; more overdose deaths involve prescription opioids than all illicit drugs combined

Partner Institution: Northwestern Oklahoma State University