Overdose prevention & harm reduction

Commitment: We will install opioid overdose emergency kits, which include nasal naloxone, in all residence common areas by mid-August 2024. These emergency kits will be easily accessible in visible public areas, and on every floor or lounge depending on building layouts.

Action: Overdose emergency kits have been sourced and will be in all residence common areas by Mid-August. 

Commitment: We will provide training for all student residence-life staff on the use of overdose emergency kits.

Action: Training is a component of student residence-life staff orientation for August 2024.

Commitment: We will implement a new Campus Security (CSEC) standard-operating procedure for contacting 911.

Action: The protocol across campus is now a call to 911 first and then to CSEC. If called first, CSEC will collect information and transfer the call to 911, staying on the line until 911 answers. 

Commitment: Campus Security Officers are trained in first aid. We will supplement this training with appropriate in-house programming to ensure best practices in responding to drug overdoses on campus.

Action: CSEC is in the final stages of hiring a dedicated trainer. CSEC leaders and patrol teams will complete training in August including Naloxone training, basic life support and oxygen therapy.

Commitment: We will review our protocols for emergency contact notifications.

Action: Updated protocols are expected in September and will be based on recommendations from the provincial working group and advice of our Privacy Office.

Commitment: We will work with emergency services providers and our municipal partners to develop a plan to assist emergency services in locating individuals in distress. This may include the use of a unique address for each building.

Action: In June we met with emergency service providers and municipal partners to review and improve location data sharing on the UVic campus. Wayfinding signage will be improved around on-campus housing by September and cross-campus throughout the Fall.

Commitment: We will provide education and awareness materials on the emergency-response boxes for all 3,000 students arriving in residence this September.

Action: Education and training materials are now included in new resident orientation.

Commitment: We will ensure all communications with incoming residence students (online, pre-arrival, and in-person orientation) and the Community Living Handbook are updated to include a new section on harm-reduction and safety supports.

Action: The Community Living Handbook has been updated to include a new section on harm-reduction and safety supports. In addition, we are improving our pre-arrival orientation for all new students. This includes information on caring for yourself and your community as well as substance use and harm reduction.

Commitment: At the president’s direction, we will conduct an external independent review to ensure that Sidney McIntyre-Starko’s tragic death catalyzes real change that will make campuses safer for students, staff and faculty, here at the University of Victoria and across our province.

Action: UVic has appointed independent reviewer Bob Rich, an accomplished lawyer and highly decorated former Abbotsford Police Chief, to lead an external review. This will include an incident analysis and recommendations to strengthen campus safety at UVic.

Commitment: We will appoint a Special Advisor to convene a panel of experts to provide evidence-based recommendations that will improve institutional systems, processes, communications, training and education with respect to overdose prevention and response. The full report from the Special Advisor will also include the report and recommendations of the independent reviewer and will be provided to me in writing.

Action: Dr. Jennifer White has been appointed as the Special Advisor on Overdose Response and Prevention. White has established a panel of experts and is leading an environmental scan to better understand the range of current harm reduction activities at UVic.

A Campus Overdose Prevention and Response Committee has also been struck to share information, coordinate actions, harmonize policies, training, education and more. Terms of Reference and committee structure are under development.