Changing Minds and Lives: A Substance Use Awareness Campaign

Introduction: In 2024, 48.4million Americans experienced a substance use disorder (SUD),with opioid use disorder representing a significant concern. In 2024, an estimated 8 million individuals misused opioids, contributing to 54,743 fatal overdoses. College students are particularly vulnerable, with 20% reporting illicit substance use within the past month, highlighting the urgent need for focused interventions in this population. Project Overview: Boiler Substance Awareness Network (BSAN) is a campus initiative funded by the Lead Forward Fellowship grant. BSAN educates the Purdue community about SUD to reduce stigma and foster a recovery-friendly environment. The focus is on two objectives: preparing students to respond to substance use situations, such as opioid overdoses, and promoting understanding and empathy for those impacted by SUD to create a supportive, informed campus. Community Impact: BSAN educates the Purdue community through tabling events, organizational presentations, and social media outreach. Monthly tabling events provide Narcan® (naloxone), a medication to reverse an opioid overdose, training and distribution as well as free fentanyl test strips, equipping students to save lives. To date, BSAN has distributed 3,700 doses of naloxone, engaging over 5,000 community members with the support of 84 student volunteers. BSAN has delivered presentations, prepared with the assistance of the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists Purdue chapter, to various groups, such as Purdue Student Government. With 3,350 Instagram followers, BSAN extends its educational reach online. Collaboration with organizations like Overdose Lifeline, the Tippecanoe County Health Department, and IU ECHO further enhances BSAN’s impact. Student Impact: BSAN student leaders participate in a curricular experience through the Lead Forward Fellowship, enhancing their skills to support the project’s mission and impact. Conclusion: BSAN’s efforts have significantly impacted substance use disorder awareness at Purdue, fostering a supportive environment through education, collaboration, and student leadership.