Substance Use and Harm Reduction
If you suspect someone is experiencing an overdose, call 911 immediately. Do not wait. Quick action can save a life. If you’re unsure, it’s always safer to call 911.
Possible signs of an overdose may include:
- Slow, irregular, or stopped breathing
- Difficulty waking or inability to respond
- Unusual drowsiness or unconsciousness
- Bluish or pale lips or fingertips
- Choking, gurgling, or snoring sounds
Harm reduction is an approach that aims to reduce the negative impacts of substance use. It emphasizes safety, support, and respect for individuals, while promoting access to education, resources, and care.
Through harm reduction strategies, we work to increase awareness, reduce stigma, and support the health and wellbeing of our campus community.
Free opioid overdose prevention supplies
We provide free naloxone (Narcan®) and fentanyl test strips through the Naloxone Distribution Project. To request free opioid overdose prevention supplies, visit us at the Gator Student Health Center.
Opioids are a class of drugs used to relieve pain. They can be prescribed by doctors to treat moderate to severe pain, but they also carry serious risks and side effects. Opioids include both prescription medications and illegal drugs, such as heroin.
Common prescription opioids include:
- oxycodone (OxyContin)
- hydrocodone (Vicodin)
- morphine
- methadone
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is much stronger than other opioids and is typically used for severe pain, such as advanced cancer. Illegally made fentanyl has become increasingly common and is a major cause of overdose.
NARCAN® is a nasal spray form of naloxone, a potentially lifesaving medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose in minutes. Since most opioid overdoses occur in the home and are often witnessed, having NARCAN® nearby can make all the difference.
Fentanyl test strips are small strips used to check drugs for the presence of fentanyl, a powerful opioid that can increase the risk of overdose. They are easy to use and can help people make more informed decisions and reduce risk.
Additional resources
Overdose Prevention (CDC)
Access information on fentanyl, naloxone, polysubstance use, and reducing stigma around recovery and treatment.
National Helpline (SAMHSA)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Helpline provides 24/7 referrals to local treatment and support services.
SFSU Wellness Map
Find available wellness resources on campus, including safer sex supplies, lactation rooms, gender-neutral bathrooms, food security resources, sleep stations, identity affirming spaces and much more.
Need help? Contact us:
Counseling and Mental Health Services
Medical Health Services
Additional learning resources
Note: If there are other movies, documentaries or series about substance use you think we should add to this list, please fill out our Media recommendation form.
Media on drugs and racial inequity
Watching movies, documentaries and reading books can help us better understand experiences that may be unfamiliar to us. This list of media can help contextualize the ways drug criminalization, stigma and limited supportive services create barriers for those seeking support.
• “13th,” directed by Ava DuVernay
Topics: Mass incarceration, racial inequality, prison system
Explores the history of racial inequality in the United States, focusing on the disproportionate incarceration of Black Americans and the legacy of the 13th Amendment.
• “Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy,” directed by Stanley Nelson
Topics: War on drugs, racism, 1980s policy
Examines the rise of crack cocaine in the 1980s and how drug policy and media narratives were shaped by systemic racism and political agendas.
• “Grass Is Greener,” directed by Fab 5 Freddy
Topics: Cannabis, racial injustice, drug policy
Explores the history of cannabis in the United States and its connection to music, culture and racially biased drug enforcement.
• “Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics,” directed by Donick Cary
Topics: Psychedelics, culture, personal experiences
Celebrities share stories about their experiences with psychedelics, highlighting both the humorous and reflective aspects of altered states.
• “Take Your Pills,” directed by Alison Klayman
Topics: Prescription stimulants, academic pressure, misuse
Explores the use of amphetamines among students, athletes and professionals in high-pressure environments.
• “The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution,” directed by Stanley Nelson
Topics: Black activism, social movements, political history
Chronicles the rise of the Black Panther Party and its impact on American culture, politics and Black liberation movements.
• “The House I Live In,” directed by Eugene Jarecki
Topics: War on drugs, criminal justice system, public policy
Offers a comprehensive look at the U.S. war on drugs through the perspectives of individuals across the criminal justice system, highlighting its social and human impacts.
• “Beautiful Boy,” directed by Felix van Groeningen
Topics: Addiction, family relationships, recovery
A father and son navigate the challenges of methamphetamine addiction, exploring how substance use impacts family dynamics and the path toward recovery.
• “Everything Must Go,” directed by Dan Rush
Topics: Alcohol use, job loss, personal crisis
After losing his job due to alcohol use, a man is forced to confront his circumstances and reassess his life while living out of his front yard.
• “Judas and the Black Messiah,” directed by Shaka King
Topics: Black activism, government surveillance, political history
Depicts the betrayal of Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton by FBI informant William O’Neal, highlighting state surveillance and political repression in the 1960s.
• “How to Be an Antiracist,” by Ibram X. Kendi
Topics: Antiracism, systemic inequality, social justice
Examines how racism is embedded in policies and systems, offering a framework for individuals and institutions to actively practice antiracism.
• “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness,” by Michelle Alexander
Topics: Mass incarceration, racial inequality, criminal justice system
Argues that the U.S. criminal justice system functions as a modern system of racial control, disproportionately impacting Black communities and other marginalized groups.
• “The War on Drugs: A Failed Experiment,” by Paula Mallea
Topics: Drug policy, criminal justice system, public policy
Critiques the effectiveness of the war on drugs, examining its impact on drug use, incarceration rates and public health outcomes.