Youngstown & Mahoning Valley - A new student organization at Youngstown State University is working to educate the Penguin community on opioid addiction. 

It's the group's mission to reduce opioid overdoses by providing resources on campus and throughout Mahoning Valley.  

YSU graduate student Amelia Fisher saw a need to spread more awareness surrounding opioid use. Working as a substance abuse counselor opened Fisher's eyes to issues happening in our communities.

"All day, every day, I'm seeing individuals who are struggling with addiction," Fisher explained. "And it brought me to the thought that we don't have a lot of resources I feel that is known about on campus for students who are maybe struggling with addiction."

While working to destigmatize addiction, the new organization named 'Where You Are' will also offer Narcan training and Narcan kits for emergencies.

"I definitely want to get someone in there who has experience administering Narcan and inform students on how to use it," Fisher explained, who is in the Master of Social Work program at YSU. "And what situations to use it and what to look out for."

Fisher explained volunteering for this group helps earn students other volunteer hours for different clubs and organizations. She also says she's working to gain more resources to help this club grow.

The organization would also provide fentanyl test strips.

"Students tend to experiment with drugs when they get into college," Fisher said. "So definitely testing any sort of drug that you're given to make sure that it's clean and as safe as can be. That's kind of the harm reduction model."

Mahoning County Public Health saw more than 150 fatal overdoses in 2023 in Mahoning County alone. Through Project DAWN, 123 lives were saved through Narcan in the county. Efforts to help those around you during times of crisis are the top priority of Fisher's efforts.

"I think if people have the confidence and the knowledge on how to use these resources, they're more likely to use it and more likely to save a life," Fisher added.

Any student can be a part of the club. Fisher is specifically looking for social work and criminal justice students to grow the organization.