Real change happens when a community comes together.
British Columbia continues to face a toxic drug crisis that has claimed thousands of lives and affected families and communities across the province. In January 2024, the University of Victoria experienced this crisis first hand with the loss of first-year student Sidney McIntyre-Starko to a toxic-drug poisoning. Since then, UVic students, staff and faculty have helped shape a more coordinated approach to substance use health. The result is a growing network of initiatives, partnerships, learning opportunities and supports designed to make UVic a healthier, safer and more supportive place to live, learn, work and visit.
To support these efforts, UVic appointed Jennifer White as Special Advisor, Substance Use Health for two years, and, guided by the university’s steering committee and countless voices from across campus, she developed a strategy to advance substance use health at UVic.
As White’s two years as Special Advisor draw to a close, we sat down with her to learn more about how UVic’s approach to substance use health has evolved.
Q. The Substance Use Health Strategy is called a whole-campus approach. What does this mean?
A. Substance use health intersects with almost all aspects of university life. Health services and emergency responders have essential roles, but sustainable progress also depends on the knowledge, decisions and practices of faculty, staff, leaders, students and community partners.
We need everyone to be willing to listen, learn and lean in. That’s why the Steering Committee prioritized activities that increased awareness, while creating opportunities for engagement, feedback and shared learning.
We organized a Students’ Assembly on Preventing Harms from Toxic Drugs in which students learned about substance use health and developed their own recommendations for the university’s approach. Separately, a panel of researchers developed guidelines and best practices for substance use health in higher education. We engaged directly with Indigenous students and staff at First Peoples House, consulted on a drug-checking service for campus, and intentionally engaged staff and faculty across organizational portfolios.
One of the most important lessons emerging from this work is that relationships matter. We have to be able to see past our own expertise and across difference. That takes some unlearning. This work has helped us to see what everyone is doing across campus, to identify gaps, and to explore creative solutions beyond what we could have imagined alone.
Q. How is UVic helping to educate students about the toxic drug crisis in BC?
A. Our goal is not simply to provide information, but to help create a campus community where people have the knowledge, confidence and practical skills to respond with care, support one another and know where to turn for help.
In addition to our ongoing awareness campaigns and free Naloxone training, a group of experts from across UVic have developed an online Substance Use Health Foundational Learning Series that will help build awareness, reduce stigma and increase confidence in responding to substance-related concerns and emergencies. The online training will be launched in the coming months and is an important step forward.
Q. How has the university improved its crisis readiness and response?
A. We have done so much work in this area and we continue to evolve. Over the past year, the university has been updating our campus-wide approach to crisis readiness and response. A refreshed framework, expected to be implemented in the coming months, defines clear processes and strengthens coordination across units when an issue or crisis occurs.
We’ve also launched emergency-contact protocols so that we can notify emergency contacts when someone becomes seriously ill or injured. We were the first university in British Columbia to develop these protocols and now we’re sharing our learnings across the sector.
Our Campus Security personnel now have First Responder First Aid certification so they can provide first aid and better support the transition of care when first responders arrive. We’ve also invested in building signage, wayfinding and coordination with first responders so that they can get to where help is needed more quickly.
Q. Do students know where to find support if they need it?
A. Our student population is always changing and our work to help keep them informed must continue to evolve, too. We’ve made a concerted effort to make harm reduction supplies available across campus, and every major building now has Naloxone available—often co-located with AEDs.
In addition to these efforts, our Steering Committee launched a project to map the many supports and resources available to students and identify opportunities to continue to strengthen access. We discovered that UVic has a strong network of services and partnerships, but we could make them easier to find, understand and access. This is an opportunity we can explore in the months ahead.
Q. Will students face consequences at UVic if they are in possession of substances?
A. No. The use and possession of substances for personal use are no longer listed as examples of non-academic misconduct under UVic’s Non-Academic Misconduct Policy, and for students living in residence, these are not breaches of policies in the Residence Contract. Students will not face consequences or get into trouble with UVic if they call 9-1-1 for help – even if they’ve used substances and/or are in possession of substances. We’ve made these changes with the goal that students feel safer asking for help when they need it.
Q. What’s next for substance use health at UVic?
A. Starting this Fall, work on substance use health will be led by Tammy Hopper, Dean of Health and Nicole Greengoe, Executive Director, Wellness, Recreation and Athletics. They are excellent leaders who are well placed to build on the progress to date and explore our Substance Use Health Strategy as a key element of an overall approach to wellness at UVic.
There are lots of exciting initiatives for them to dig into, including a pilot program to offer drug checking on campus. What’s certain is they’ll have a broad spectrum of students, staff and faculty eager to support them in this work.
I’ve only shared a few of the highlights – there is so much more. As I reflect on these past two years, it’s the people that really come to the forefront. I’m grateful for the trust people placed in me and the support we had from so many across campus and in the community. This is truly a collective effort. I’m so proud of all the good things we’ve accomplished together and look forward to supporting Nicole and Tammy as they lead us into this next chapter.
