The McIntrye-Starko family is relieved that the University of Victoria (Uvic) is learning from the Jan. 23rd incident in which their daughter Sidney was exposed to fentanyl and died a few days later.
By mid-August, the university will have install 89 new, easily accessible Naloxone kits installed in all residence common areas. Additionally, UVic will also provide education and awareness materials for all 3,000 residents arriving in September.
In the two years prior to the death of their daughter, 12 people had died from opioid poisoning on B.C. post-secondary campuses, something that Caroline McIntyre wishes could have been different.
"There is such urgency to this, another person has already died on a B.C. campus since Sidney died," said McIntyre. "We wish this type of thing had already been in place on B.C. campuses to prevent some of those deaths, including Sidney’s. We are relieved that UVic is finally doing this."
"It is a much-needed layer of protection in the current environment of the toxic drug supply," said Kenton Starko, Sidney's father.
In an email to Black Press Media, Starko said they would have preferred for this to happen months ago without the need for media exposure.
The university has also announced that it had implemented a new campus security standard operating procedure for contacting 911 in an emergency. Emergency service providers will work alongside the university to develop a plan for locating individuals on campus.
Students will receive an updated Community Living Handbook with a new section on harm reduction and safety supports.
An external independent review will be conducted and the provost will be tasked with a steering committee and appointing a special advisor to convene a panel of experts.
"We are hopeful that the overdose prevention and response committee that Minister Beare has created will ensure this happens on all B.C," said McIntyre.