In preparation for their Halloween party on Friday, Triangle fraternity risk management prepared an overdose prevention kit containing Narcan and fentanyl strips to be placed on the kitchen counter for emergency access. (Sarah Taylor/CU Independent)
Halloween weekend, often simplified to “Halloweekend” by students at the University of Colorado Boulder, is three consecutive nights of costume events across the city’s off-campus neighborhoods. The University Hill’s Greek life festivities will show high attendance of students seeking relief and fun amidst midterms.
Dawned in his pirate costume to shield the brisk October night, Colin Craig will not be joining in on Friday. As one of the newest members of CU Boulder’s STEM fraternity Triangle, Craig will be a sober brother, “sobro,” at their Halloween party. This is a common role senior fraternity members give to new members as part of initiation.
“If s— goes down, I’m the person that actually is going to be able to take control of the situation and manage it,” Craig said.
Triangle requires sobros under their risk management policies that are enforced by CU Interfraternity Council bylaws. Risk management is also in place to reduce the risk of harmful substance use at fraternity events.
The number of deaths from opioid overdose in 2023 was 10 times larger than in 1999, making overdose the leading cause of accidental deaths in the U.S. This is also linked to the increased distribution of illegally produced opioids such as fentanyl, a powerful synthetic that can be fatal in tiny doses. It’s commonly mixed into other illicit drugs and cannot be detected without fentanyl strips, according to the CDC.
Boulder is not exempt from the crisis. Between 2020 and 2023, there were 174 unintentional overdose deaths reported in Boulder County, 75.3% of which had opioids present. The majority of those deaths occurred in houses or apartments, according to Colorado State health data.
Craig and fellow brothers know that there is naloxone, an opioid overdose medication, and fentanyl strips in a white wire basket on the kitchen counter to the right of the stove.
Signs of an opioid overdose include unresponsiveness, slow breathing, tiny pupils, and cold and clammy skin. Call 911 immediately, and administer naloxone while waiting for emergency responders to arrive.
Naloxone is an FDA-approved medicine that prevents opioids from binding with receptors in the brain. This temporarily reverses the effects of opioid overdose for two to three minutes by restoring breathing. To activate Narcan nasal spray, place your thumb on the plunger and insert the nozzle end into either nostril. Press the plunger to spray.
The nostril lining absorbs the medicine, so the person does not need to breathe for it to work. Narcan is safe to use regardless of whether opioids are present or not, so there is no harm in administering even if you’re uncertain.
Students can get free naloxone on the third floor of Wardenburg Health Center. CU’s End Overdose offers training programs for students, as well as Off-Campus Life’s Party Registration orientation.
Off-Campus Life is a bridge between student and non-student community members. Party Registration used to be under Boulder Police Department jurisdiction, but was reallocated to CU to serve as an “educational opportunity,” according to Director Jeff Morris.
“It’s a benefit for us to have students go through this class with us, learn about not only how the program works and how it doesn’t work, so we can dispel myths around the program,” Morris said. “But also engage students on good neighbor behavior, like, what does it mean to be a good neighbor?”
Students who register their social events receive a 20-minute warning via text if BPD gets a noise complaint from surrounding neighbors, a window to shut it down, and avoid a fine. Morris also teaches students about city ordinances and opens a conversation about alcohol and drug use at parties.
Off-Campus Life also partnered with the CU Collegiate Recovery Community to train students in overdose response and naloxone use.
“It’s just a great opportunity to have that staff from health promotions and the CRC come in, because now we have a captive audience,” Morris said. “And so for us, we use party registration as a tool to get that information to those students.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Sarah Taylor at sarah.taylor@colorado.edu
