Orange County NC Website
99 <br /> COALITION <br /> February 16, 2026 <br /> Dear Orange County Opioid Advisory Committee, <br /> I am pleased to support the proposal submitted by the UNC Student Wellness to the Orange County <br /> Opioid Settlement Fund Awards.The activities of Student Wellness are aligned with the Award's goals, <br /> and further,they are aligned with the Campus and Community Coalition's(CCC)mission and objectives <br /> to reduce the harms associated with high-risk drinking in our campus community. <br /> Student Wellness's proposal to educate and increase Naloxone distribution to the campus and community <br /> fills a deep gap in freely accessible harm-reduction resources for our community's young people.And <br /> while it may be perceived that the only beneficiary of their proposal is UNC students,the education <br /> opportunities and distribution of Naloxone in the channels proposed would have a community-wide <br /> impact,inclusive of non-student community members. In addition,the distribution of Naloxone to UNC <br /> students would positively influence outcomes among other populations with whom they interact(i.e., <br /> other youth, unhoused persons, non-student adults, neighbors, et al.), both within and outside our Orange <br /> County community.Further, Student Wellness already employs an approach in which harm reduction and <br /> prevention lie on a spectrum, and carrying Naloxone, among other behaviors, changes the community's <br /> culture toward substance use, support seeking, and recovery allyship. <br /> Student Wellness has deep roots with collaborative partners on and off campus, including Student Affairs, <br /> Environmental Health and Safety,Campus Police, Libraries, Recovery Communities, students, and others. <br /> Leveraging these collaborations, as well as those within the CCC, will facilitate the successful <br /> implementation of the proposed activities and integrate well into our community's collective harm <br /> reduction initiatives. <br /> I look forward to continued collaboration with Student Wellness and emphasize my support for their <br /> proposal. I strongly believe their work is essential to supporting the health of our entire community. <br /> About The CCC: The CCC is a collaborative public health coalition that brings together university and <br /> community partners to address harms associated with high-risk drinking. By fostering open dialogue, <br /> employing data-driven systems change strategies,and working collaboratively create actionable and <br /> sustainable solutions,we create an environment where everyone can thrive socially, academically, and <br /> economically. This environment is ever-changing, and the rise of substance use among our community's <br /> young adults and youth has been alarming. The environments in which high-risk drinking occurs are often <br /> the same ones where other substances, including opioids, are available and used. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Samantha Luu,MPH <br /> Director, Campus&Community Coalition <br />