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The Overdose Prevention Task Force, a subcommittee of ������Ƶ’s Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA), arranged an opioid overdose prevention training session for Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM) students on the Downers Grove Campus. In the session, they learned about opioids, opioid usage, methods to fight the opioid epidemic, and hands-on treatment to administer naloxone, a rapidly acting medication that could reverse the effects of an accidental opioid overdose. The training assists the future doctors in their preparation to treat patients who suffer from opioid addiction. While the training session was mostly comprised of incoming osteopathic medicine students, current medical students also attended, bringing the total to 191 students, all gaining first-time or deeper knowledge of the opioid epidemic and emergency treatment with naloxone. 

“We feel that beyond the education of opioid use and treatment, introducing naloxone training early into the academic year provides the space and opportunity for medical students to learn about their soon-to-be responsibilities as health professionals,” said medical student Ross Barz (CCOM ’27). Ross serves as the co-director of the SOMA Overdose Prevention Task Force along with Claire Manhard (CCOM ’27) and Mary Kate Whiteside (CCOM ’27). The training was held to increase the students’ knowledge of emergency treatment of an opioid overdose, as opioid abuse is an epidemic in the U.S. and an issue the students are likely to face in their future careers as healthcare professionals. 

“The more that individuals are equipped with the skills and materials to reverse opioid overdoses, the better we can thrive as a community,” Ross said. He also shared that the SOMA Overdose Prevention Task Force strives for overdose prevention, the education and training of aspiring healthcare professionals about treatment for substance abuse, and the removal of the stigma associated with substance abuse. One of the ways the SOMA Overdose Prevention Task Force seeks to accomplish this is through opioid overdose prevention training for medical students. Last year, the group held two hands-on naloxone administration training sessions for CCOM students. 

������Ƶ strives to provide a variety of educational opportunities to supplement the classroom knowledge of students, as part of its ongoing commitment to educating the next generation of healthcare professionals. The trainings, such as the opioid overdose prevention session, prepare students to be ready for the set of challenges they will face as healthcare professionals. The University also prepares students to treat patients suffering from a variety of health conditions, including substance abuse.