USC's Center of Health and Well-Being pharmacy will now sell Narcan, a branded version of the drug Naloxone. It has the ability to reverse an accidental opioid overdose, and will be available to students without a prescription in the form of a nasal spray.
"We hope that students will never have to administer Narcan, but if they do, we hope it saves a life," said university spokesman Jeff Stensland in an email.
With the current opioid crisis striking the United States and the increase in opioid-related deaths in South Carolina, the university hopes to sell this drug as a preventative measure to protect USC students against the epidemic.
"While opioid addiction does not appear to be a widespread problem at USC, it’s unrealistic to believe that no students will ever be impacted," Stensland said. "The decision to offer Narcan was prompted by leadership at Student Health Services and is a proactive measure that reinforces steps we’ve already taken to address the opioid problem."
The drug will cost about $150 without insurance, but the pharmacy will work with students to see if their insurance will help pay for the drug. In addition, the university is working to apply for a grant to help bring the cost down.
The university previously hired a full-time specialist to work with Gamecock Recovery to address addiction issues on USC's campus.