Students in Arlington Public Schools will likely be allowed to carry the opioid-overdose treatment naloxone in school starting next month.
Superintendent Francisco Duran said at a school board meeting last week that the school system is in the process of establishing policies, procedures, and requirements to allow students to carry naloxone.
Among those requirements will be a parental consent form that lets parents give permission for their children to carry it, as well as recognition of safety protocols, including any necessary training and a requirement that students call 911 and notify school staff if they administer naloxone to anyone.
Duran said the school system started looking into the possibility last month, when the federal Food and Drug Administration approved Narcan (the brand name for naloxone) as an over-the-counter drug, with no prescription required.
“This is just one of the steps that we have to do,” Duran said. “It’s not the solution, but an additional measure that I think will be very beneficial” in combating opioid overdoses, which he called “a crisis.”
He said he had met with students, parents and teachers over the past month on the topic, and he was confident the move was a popular one.
“I’m excited that we are going to make this happen,” he said.
Duran said he hoped to have the policy in place by May 26.
“If you would like to be carrying Narcan just in case, it is available to you at no cost through the county, and there are many, many ways to get trained. It can truly save a life,” School Board Vice Chair Cristina Diaz-Torres told students.
Area schools systems have been educating the community about the dangers of fentanyl and other opioids after recent overdoses.
A student at Arlington’s Wakefield High School died in early February after a January 31 overdose. Another student overdosed on fentanyl at Fairfax High School in March.
Arlington County offers free one-hour training sessions to teach people how to use the naloxone. THe next sessions are on May 3 and June 7.
Feature image courtesy Hanson/peopleimages.com/stock.adobe.com
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