Four overdoses reported over the weekend in Isla Vista

UCSB classes haven’t even started and already, Sheriff’s officials are seeing indications of a dangerous school year ahead.

This past weekend was move-in weekend at UCSB.

“The parties picked up, as they usually do in Isla Vista,” said Lt. Erik Raney, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.

First responders had to show up to three of those parties for four separate overdoses.

“Our Fire Department and our Sheriff’s Office responded, administering Narcan to each of those four patients who thankfully recovered,” said Lt. Raney.

Raney says prescription pills were being used in one case and they’re unsure of what was ingested or consumed with the other three. At this point, officials don’t think the overdoses are connected.

“I think it’s just people who haven’t had a chance to party and they’re just doing the extreme,” said Christian Berumen, UCSB student. Berumen says his roommate is known to hit the party circuit so hearing that things got out of hand is concerning.

It’s all a stark reminder of the dangers of opioid-related overdoses.

“They do their best on trying to educate us about knowing our limits and stuff like that but it’s always concerning when you can tell people around you’ve just done way too much,” said UCSB Student Mikayla Ambriz.

With over 2,000 overdose deaths a year in California, this all hits close to home for Ambriz. “I work at the gym on campus and we recently had somebody OD and actually pass away so definitely hearing that it scares me,” she said.

Raney says unfortunately, four OD’s in one weekend is not unusual, it’s a trend that’s been occurring for several years now.

“It’s so concerning, a couple years ago, new legislation was passed called Good Samaritan Laws that protect people who called 911 in the event of an overdose,” said Lt. Raney.

With a new school year just around the corner, Raney says law enforcement is focused on care and treatment when called to an overdose. “Stick around, call 911, provide care. You’re not going to get in trouble,” he said.

We reached out to the Student Health Alcohol and Drug Program and counselors there were unaware of the weekend overdoses and were not available to go on camera.