There have been no deaths due to drug overdoses in Isla Vista during the past few weeks, in contradiction to an email sent out to all UC Santa Barbara students two weeks ago.
The email, which was sent out on March 20 as a public health announcement, stated that three I.V. residents had overdosed “during the past few weeks.”
“Two were revived with the use of Naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal drug. The third did not survive,” the email stated.
When the Nexus reached out to Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office (SBSO) spokesperson Kelly Hoover for further information about the death, she stated that there had been no overdose-related deaths in I.V. during the time period mentioned by the administration.
UCSB Director of News and Media Relations Andrea Estrada confirmed with the Nexus Wednesday that the administration had misidentified the location of the overdose-related death in the email.
“Based on information provided by Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness, our Drug and Alcohol Program (we) incorrectly identified the location of an opioid- related death in a message sent to students last month. Upon reviewing the information, we have determined the death cited in the email occurred in the City of Santa Barbara, and not in Isla Vista,” Estrada said in an email to the Nexus.
Hoover said that the death referenced in the email may have referred to a 19-year-old Santa Barbara City College student, who passed away on Feb. 13 due to an overdose at the Beach City Apartments in Santa Barbara. The student did not live in I.V.
The email sent out by the university contained information about opioids, overdoses and Community Overdose Trainings, which were open to all students.
The training sessions were scheduled for April 2 at 7 p.m. and April 4 at 3 p.m. in the I.V. Community Room. Attendees will learn how to “prevent, recognize, and respond to opioid overdose, and how to administrator Naloxone,” according to the email.
Those who attend will also receive free naloxone kits.
Naloxone hydrochloride, also known by its brand name Narcan, is used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Deputies have deployed naloxone over seven times in I.V. since the implementation of the SBSO naloxone program in April 2017.
