Heroin overdoses in Columbus appear to have leveled off after a sharp spike this week. First responders say at least 35 people overdosed in a 24 hour period. Twenty-seven of them needed a live-saving drug that reverses overdoses.
Ohio State University's Wilce Student Health Center has not seen any increase in drug use, but they're still stocking the opiate overdose antidote known as Naloxone.
Dr. Kathryn McKee, a staff physician at the student health center, spoke to WOSU's Debbie Holmes about the decision to carry Naloxone, and how other colleges are responding to the opiod epidemic.
Click the play button below to hear their conversation.
The below transcript is a automated transcript of the above conversation. Please excuse minor typos and errors.
Debbie Holmes: With me to talk about the availability of Naloxone campus is Dr. Kathryn McKee a staff physician here at the OSU Student Health Center. Thanks for joining me.
Dr. Kathryn McKee: Thank you for having me.
Debbie Holmes: What have we seen here on campus in regard to students and drug use?
Dr. Kathryn McKee: We are primarily positioning ourselves knowing how much of a problem it is in the surrounding community. We assume that there are also problems here on campus, but we have not seen any increase in drug use per se here at the student health center. But we are positioning ourselves with the availability of Naloxone and other services in the case that that starts to happen.
Debbie Holmes: And why do you feel that's so important?
Dr. Kathryn McKee: This is part of the community and this is where most of the students on campus get their health care. So we just we need to provide the kind of health care they would get out in the community for drug assessment, detox or treatment and prevention of overdose if possible.
Debbie Holmes: And do they have to pay for this then?
Dr. Kathryn McKee: Yes there is a cost. We are still kind of hammering all that out with the insurance people and that's really not my expertise, but there would be a cost probably covered under their insurance if they are the one that it is prescribed for. For instance, if we're providing medication assisted treatment to someone in recovery they would be getting a prescription, and then I assume their insurance would cover that. But for others too there's probably a cost.
Debbie Holmes: What if they're getting it for a friend? I mean would that be of any concern?
Dr. Kathryn McKee: No it's covered by a new law part of a Good Samaritan idea where you can get the medication even though you might not be the end user.
Debbie Holmes: Do you think that's a good idea?
Dr. Kathryn McKee: Absolutely. Most of the time the people who are going to need the treatment will not be able to give it to themselves.
Debbie Holmes: So far as how many students come in here asking for some help with a drug issue? How many do you see?
Dr. Kathryn McKee: That's a difficult number to come up with. I have not seen personally any one yet the semester. The counseling and consultation services do a lot of alcohol and drug assessments and I don't know what their numbers look like yet this year.
Debbie Holmes: Do you think then that this is not a widespread problem here on campus?
Dr. Kathryn McKee: I would assume that it is probably in the same kind of percentages as we see in surrounding communities. So I'm assuming that it is somewhat of a problem on campus but not any more than what we've seen in the past.
Debbie Holmes: From your viewpoint then you have not seen anybody who has come in here and asked for Naloxone?
Dr. Kathryn McKee: I have not personally.
Debbie Holmes: And this is the first semester this is offer than this overdose fighting drug?
Dr. Kathryn McKee: Correct at our pharmacy.
Debbie Holmes:What are other Big Ten schools or other campuses doing?
Dr. Kathryn McKee: Well I know Indiana University just made Naloxone available in their student health pharmacy as well. Campus police there at Indiana University are now carrying Naloxone.
Debbie Holmes: How are you getting the word out to students?
Dr. Kathryn McKee: We are doing a program on October 6th, kind of an informational program about Naloxone use medication assisted treatment and our recovery services here on campus. That's at 4 p.m. here at the student health center. But also The Lantern articles, we've had a notice in Oncampus (OSU faculity and staff email newsletter) and the wellness center also provides a lot of information throughout campus.
Debbie Holmes: Well thank you so much. I've been talking with Dr. Kathryn McKee with the OSU student health services.
Dr. Kathryn McKee: Thank you very much for having me this morning.
