Six university students in Colorado are recovering after overdosing at a fraternity house on Dec. 7, with the incident possibly involving a “tainted batch of cocaine,” the Boulder Police Department said in a news release on Sunday.
Boulder police officers responded to the hospital and the Kappa Sigma fraternity house between 10:00 and 10:30 p.m. on Saturday following reports of six adult males who were sick or overdosing, authorities said.
Preliminary information indicated that some of the men were taken to a hospital, while others were treated at the scene by medical personnel. Boulder police said one of the men’s prognosis was “initially grave,” but that he is now in a stable condition and continues to recuperate in hospital.
Further investigation determined that the hospitalized individuals had consumed “an extreme amount of alcohol” at a party, while some of them had also consumed drugs, according to an update from the City of Boulder.
Police said detectives are also investigating if this incident is related to pledging at the fraternity.
“The Boulder Police Department would like to remind the community about the dangers of illegal drug and alcohol consumption,” the release reads.
Boulder Police Department said the investigation is ongoing and that charges are pending. Anyone with information on the incident can contact the Boulder Police tipline at 303-441-1974 regarding case 24-12864.
Party Culture
Resources posted by the University of Colorado Boulder on the X social media platform in recent days include topics such as “4 Ways to Look Out for Each Other” and “Party Smarter: 7 Tips for Navigating Parties.”
The “Look Out for Each Other” guide makes suggestions for planning a party or a night out, letting others know when they’ve had too much to drink, knowing how and when to leave a situation, and ensuring everyone gets home safely.
The “Party Smarter” guide also discusses behavior at parties and celebrations, and states that “96 percent of surveyed CU Boulder students support not drinking at parties.”
It also makes suggestions about avoiding peer pressure, limiting the number of drinks consumed, and setting limits to one’s own behavior and that of others.
The guide also encourages students to “stick to one substance at a time.”
“Using more than one substance at a time, including alcohol, medication, or other drugs, can increase your risk of experiencing an overdose,” the CU guide states. “The interactions between substances are often unpredictable and may impact you more than others. That’s why it’s important to stick to one substance at a time.”
The guide also makes it clear to students that in case of emergencies, they should seek help immediately—and without fear of retribution from the university.
“Calling for help in an alcohol- or drug-related emergency means neither the person who calls for help nor the person who needs help will be subject to formal disciplinary sanctions by the university (i.e., probation, suspension, expulsion),” the guide states, referring to UC’s Amnesty Policy for drug- or alcohol-related emergencies.
To avail of the amnesty, students must call for help, stay with the affected persons until assistance arrives, and cooperate fully with police, medical responders, and university staff, the guide states.