The preventable fentanyl-poisoning death of a University of Victoria student, which prompted major policy changes in B.C., has now led Ontario post-secondary schools to review their substance use and overdose prevention policies.
David Wai, Ontario’s deputy minister of colleges and universities, cited the death of Sidney McIntyre-Starko when he sent a memo to the heads of the nearly 50 post-secondary institutions in that province.
“This tragic incident underscores the urgency of our collective efforts to implement effective safety measures across campuses in Ontario and across the country,” Wai wrote in the June 25 memo, which was obtained by Postmedia.
“As educational leaders, it is incumbent upon us all to uphold our responsibility to students, address risks to their well-being, and create a safe learning environment.”
When McIntyre-Starko collapsed in January in a UVic dorm, the overdose-reversing drug naloxone was not available in the building and had limited accessibility on campus. Students called for help immediately but McIntyre-Starko died after a delay of 13 minutes for naloxone and 15 minutes for CPR, despite campus security responding quickly and a swift 911 call.
The failed response to her death led to a coroner’s inquest and the creation of a post-secondary overdose response committee, which this week detailed a series of changes that are to be in place by September at all 25 B.C. universities and colleges.
Wai asked Ontario post-secondary presidents to revisit their overdose prevention protocols, including harm-reduction education, access to naloxone, and providing information about treatment. He also encouraged schools to collaborate on how to respond to “situations that require lifesaving emergency intervention.”
McIntyre-Starko’s parents Ken Starko and Dr. Caroline McIntyre, who have pushed for changes since their daughter’s death, said Ontario’s memo is encouraging, but would like that province and all others in Canada make these actions mandatory, not voluntary.
“Post-secondary institutions in Canada should be mandated to provide students with the knowledge and the tools they need. Naloxone on a shelf in a pharmacy or a harm reduction centre on a campus is not good enough,” said McIntyre, an emergency physician.
McIntyre applauded B.C. post-secondary Minister Lisa Beare, who said this week universities and colleges must adhere to the new requirements outlined by her steering committee, which include posting nasal naloxone in student housing, alerting students about toxic drugs, and making it clear who to phone in an emergency on campus.
“I’ve been very clear that our expectations are the guidelines being implemented by all public institutions for the fall semester. That is crystal clear,” Beare said in an interview.
She said no college or university has balked about implementing these policies. “We’re all continuing to do this work right now to ensure that another tragedy like this doesn’t happen again.”
Beare said the committee is still determining how many nasal-spray naloxone kits will be provided to each campus, as well as guidelines for where and how they will be made accessible in dorms and other student buildings.
McIntyre said she appreciates the committee’s idea of providing students with provincial alerts about toxic drugs in their communities. But she argued those alerts, which have existed for some time, may only seem relevant to students if information about overdoses on their own campuses is also included.
UVic students were not informed that McIntyre-Starko and her friend overdosed on Jan. 23, or about another overdose three days earlier on campus.
The committee is also creating an overdose prevention awareness campaign for campuses, and McIntyre said this type of education is crucial to spread “education about the risk of using drugs, information about what an overdose looks like and how to respond to it without fear of penalties.”
Sidney’s parents would like to see a policy on campuses that shields students from getting into trouble if they report an overdose, something similar to the federal Good Samaritan act that protects people who seek help from for an overdose from drug-possession charges.
“Students must know they will not get in trouble if they call for help when drugs or alcohol are involved during a medical emergency,” McIntyre said.
In McIntyre-Starko’s case, a student who knew drugs were involved in the students’ collapses delayed telling first responders because she was afraid.
Beare said she would raise this idea with the steering committee.
“None of us wants students to be fearful to call 911 and seek the help they need, especially when they need it most. And so I very much understand what the family is asking,” Beare said.
South of the border, nearly 250 universities and colleges have this type of Good Samaritan policy, according to the organization Students for Sensible Drug Policy.
