Blue light phones as potential locations for deploying public access naloxone kits on a college campus. Issue 1 (14th February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dworkis, Daniel A; Tang, Willis; Ritcheson, Nicolas CM; Raviv, Orian; Fowler, Andrew; Ellig, Katelin; Goley, Stephanie; Arora, Sanjay
• Is Part Of: Journal of American college health. Volume 70:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 18
• Page End: 21
• Publication Date: 2022-02-14
• Subjects: Geospatial analysis -- opioid overdose -- public health; College students -- Health and hygiene -- United States -- Periodicals; College students -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; College students -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Universities and colleges -- Health promotion services -- Periodicals; 362.10883781980973
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2020.1726931
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0744-8481

Abstract

Abstract: Objective Opioid use and the risk of opioid overdose are growing public health concerns for college-aged adults. Naloxone can temporarily reverse opioid overdoses, but only if easily accessible. On most college campuses, "blue light" phones (BLPs)—call boxes topped with a blue light—offer visible access to emergency services. We hypothesized that BLPs would provide potential naloxone access points. Participants: A major university campus in Los Angeles, CA. Methods: BLP locations were obtained using Google Maps, and the area of campus within a set distance to each BLP calculated. To model effects of loss or diversion, we simulated the random loss of various BLPs. Results: Placing naloxone kits at the 59 BLP locations could provide access within 100 m to 91.5% of the campus. With loss of half of the BLPs, campus access remained above 70%. Conclusions: Naloxone at BLP locations could be accessed from almost all campus areas.