December 6, 2023

Dear URI Community,

At the University of Rhode Island, Health Services strives to help students make informed, healthy decisions. We also strive to protect the community and make sure students are aware of the life-saving resources that are available to prevent and reverse potential overdose deaths. 

To continue to keep our community safe, we want students to be aware of the Community First Responder Program (CFRP), a vital campus resource which is open weekdays to provide harm-reduction supplies such as naloxone. 

According to the Rhode Island Department of Health, more than one person per day on average dies in Rhode Island due to a drug overdose. Of these deaths, more than 75% involve illegally manufactured fentanyl.

According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, fentanyl is used to make fake pills that resemble prescription drugs like Adderall, OxyContin, Percocet, Xanax and other drugs, but it is much stronger and more dangerous. Powdered drugs are often laced with fentanyl. Fentanyl is usually hidden in other drugs, so people may not know they’re taking it–significantly raising their risk of an overdose. 

The Community First Responder Program, which is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Morrill Hall Suite 219 on the Kingston Campus, is available to students, faculty and staff to drop-in and receive harm-reduction supplies, including fentanyl test strips, safer smoking kits and safer snorting kits for stimulants, along with naloxone. 

Any member of the community can go to our website at uri.edu/CFRP and click on “Take the Course” to complete a short training course and receive free naloxone and supplies via U.S. Mail. CFRP also provides educational seminars upon request via in-person training or virtual webinar. For more information, email URICFRP@etal.uri.edu. 

There are numerous resources for people who need support, Prevent Overdose RI, URI Health Services, and the URI Counseling Center. Also, BH Link operates Rhode Island’s 24/7 behavioral health hotline. Calling or texting the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline connects callers to trained professionals who can provide confidential counseling, referrals, and support services in English and Spanish.

Thank you and stay safe!

URI Health Services/ Health Promotion and the Community First Responder Program