Heroin/Opioid Education
Due to the growing concern in the state, Governor Cuomo has mandated heroin/opioid education for all new students in the SUNY system.
The Good Samaritan Policy
Tompkins Cortland will take Good Samaritan behavior into account in situations when a student has contacted emergency services because of his or her concern for someone else’s health (alcohol, drug, other).
Heroin/opioids: the basics
Heroin is a highly addictive, illegal drug processed from morphine, a substance extracted from the seed pod of certain varieties of poppy plants. It is typically sold as a white or brownish powder and ingested by snorting, smoking, or injection.
It is in a class of powerful prescription painkillers called opioids. Prescription painkillers (e.g. oxycodone and hydrocodone) can be equally dangerous.
Symptoms of Heroin/Opioid Abuse
- Pupils are small pinpoints
- Raspy voice, dry mouth
- Speech is slow and slurred
- Individual appears to be nodding and falling asleep
- Agitation
An Overdose is deadly serious
A heroin or prescription painkiller overdose can be fatal. If you suspect a friend has been using heroin or opiate pills and shows any of the following symptoms, please call 911 for emergency medical attention immediately.
No breathing | Shallow breathing | Slow and difficult breathing | Dry mouth | Weak pulse | Coma | Extremely small pupils | Tongue discoloration | Bluish colored nails & lips | Delirium or disorientation
Where to Get Help
Campus Police: 911 or 607.844.6511
College Options Program: 607.844.8222, Ext. 4487
College Health Center: 607.844.8222, Ext. 4487
College Counseling Center: 607.844.8222, Ext. 4260
Cortland Prevention Resources: 607.756.8970
Myths and Facts
Myth: You can tell when someone is high.
Fact: Existing signs of use are subtle.
Myth: It’s safe to use opiate pills or heroin just once.
Fact: Because the strength/dose of the drug can vary greatly and is unpredictable, even first-time use can cause overdose and death. Tolerance and addiction to opiates can develop quickly.
Myth: People who are addicted can stop any time.
Fact: Few individuals can quit alone. Major withdrawal symptoms peak between 48 and 72 hours after the last dose and can last up to a week. Symptoms of withdrawal include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Myth: Heroin makes people productive or just relaxed.
Fact: After the initial effects, users are usually drowsy for several hours, mental function is clouded, heart function slows, and breathing is also severely slowed, sometimes enough to be life-threatening.
Myth: Taking a prescription drug is safer than street drugs.
Fact: Even people who are prescribed opioids to relieve a medical condition could eventually fall into the trap of abuse and addiction.