The West Virginia University Police Department issued a Community Notice on Wednesday, Sept. 23, to raise awareness about risks to those choosing to use drugs or alcohol.
To be safe, members of the community are advised to avoid substances that have not been obtained lawfully, and contact UPD if they believe they’ve taken or otherwise been exposed to any counterfeit pills or other illegal substances.
The following tips are designed to help enhance the safety of the University community:
• Remember, one pill can kill. Find additional information from the Drug Enforcement Administration.
• Be wary of any claims about the contents of illegal substances.
• Don’t consume illegal substances that could be counterfeit, for example some fake pills are made to look like other kinds of medications.
• Don’t accept drinks or illicit substances from others.
• If someone is in danger of drug or alcohol overdose, always call 911 for help. Under the WVU medical amnesty policy, you may be safe from prosecution and may not face charges under the Campus Student Code if you seek medical assistance in an emergency.
• Avoid drinking or other games involving substance use.
• Set a limit for drinks and keep track of the number consumed.
• Do not leave your drink unattended, and do not let someone pour your drink out of your sight.
• Don’t take something offered to you by someone you don’t know.
• Don’t share drinks.
• Don’t drink or take anything that tastes even a little strange, such as salty or bitter.
• Monitor for visible changes to a drink, whether that be a color change or a clear drink that becomes cloudy.
• Utilize the buddy system when out and about to help prevent someone from ending up in an unsafe situation, and have a plan for your group to get home safely.
People who suspect their drinks or other substances have been tampered with should notify someone — a friend, University employee, or law enforcement officer — immediately, seek medical help and, if possible, save the drink or other substance, report the incident to police, and provide its contents.
Additional Resources:
• WVU Police Department — 911, 304-293-2677, 304-293-3136
• WVU CARE Team — 304-293-5611
• WVU Carruth Center — 304-293-4431
• WVU Office of Compliance and Prevention Education — 304-293-5600
• WVU Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities — 304-293-8111
• Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center — 304-292-5100
• WVU Office of Campus and Community Life — 304-293-5611
• WVU Student Health — 304-285-7200
• WVU Division of Student Life — 304-293-5811
Safety, preparedness and training resources are posted at police.wvu.edu.
Students and employees are encouraged to follow the WVU Safety and Wellness Facebook page as well as @WVUsafety on X and @WVUsafetyofficial on Instagram, and download the LiveSafe app and allow push notifications for the latest safety information.
A Community Notice is part of the WVU three-tiered emergency notification system used to enhance student and employee safety and provide useful information to the community.
-WVU-
sj/9/23/26
MEDIA CONTACT: Shauna Johnson
Executive Director of Strategic Communications
WVU Strategic Communications and Marketing
304-293-8302; sjohns13@mail.wvu.edu
Call 1-855-WVU-NEWS for the latest West Virginia University news and information from WVUToday.