News Summary
San Diego State University will hold a three-on-three basketball tournament to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl. Co-hosted by local officials and the MESA Foundation, the event aims to educate college students on overdose prevention and naloxone usage. SDSU athletics collaborates with law enforcement to emphasize ongoing concerns over fentanyl on campuses, especially after alarming overdose statistics. The tournament will feature educational booths and encourage community involvement among students, bridging athletics with public health initiatives.
San Diego – San Diego State University (SDSU) will host a three-on-three basketball tournament on September 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Aztec Recreation Center (ARC). This event is designed to promote awareness of the dangers associated with fentanyl, specifically targeting college students and young adults.
The tournament is co-hosted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the San Diego City Attorney’s Office, and the non-profit MESA Foundation. SDSU men’s basketball players will officiate the games, and members of the university’s Greek Life system will participate in the tournament.
In addition to the competitive aspect of basketball, the event will feature educational booths aimed at providing resources about fentanyl, overdose prevention, and the usage of naloxone. Naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, is a life-saving medication capable of reversing opioid overdoses. In California, this medication is available in pharmacies without the need for a prescription.
The urgency to educate young adults about fentanyl and its associated risks is highlighted by recent statements from officials. The synthetic opioid fentanyl continues to pose a significant threat on college campuses, and city authorities emphasize that awareness is essential for prevention. In 2022, official data reported 630 opioid overdose cases in San Diego, resulting in 35 fatalities among individuals aged 20 to 24.
This tournament marks an ongoing commitment from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the City Attorney’s Office to combat the fentanyl epidemic through both enforcement and educational initiatives. It represents the third collaboration between SDSU athletics and local law enforcement focused on fentanyl prevention initiatives. Previous efforts include a social media awareness campaign featuring the SDSU women’s soccer team in 2024 and involvement from the men’s basketball team in 2023.
The MESA Foundation serves as an official partner of SDSU Athletics, targeting the connection between student-athletes and community organization initiatives. Awareness campaigns like this serve to illuminate the growing concern regarding fentanyl on college campuses, where its potency—approximately 50 times stronger than morphine—can lead to fatal overdoses with as little as 2 milligrams of the substance.
As part of SDSU’s compliance with the Campus Safety Opioid Act, the institution provides naloxone and fentanyl test strips at various campus locations. These test strips can detect the presence of fentanyl in substances but do not indicate the quantity. Students may obtain naloxone and test strips confidentially, without personal information being recorded during the process.
The End Overdose chapter at SDSU, founded by student Amren Purewal, is actively engaged in educating peers about overdose response techniques. This initiative aligns with the aims of the basketball tournament, which expects participation from around 10 fraternity teams, fostering a supportive and health-conscious environment within the community.
In summary, the three-on-three basketball tournament at SDSU serves not only as a competitive sporting event but also as a pivotal platform for raising awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and the importance of overdose prevention among young adults. The collaborative efforts of multiple organizations highlight a significant commitment to addressing the ongoing fentanyl crisis in a proactive manner.
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Additional Resources
- 10 News: SDSU Hosts Basketball Tournament to Raise Fentanyl Awareness
- San Diego Union Tribune: Aztecs Notes – Players Referee Fellow Students at Fentanyl Awareness Event
- The Daily Aztec: Fentanyl Overdoses are Rising – Having Naloxone on Hand Can Help Save a Life
- Google Search: Fentanyl Awareness
- Wikipedia: Fentanyl
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SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
