Nationwide there has been an alarming increase in opioid use among students 14-17. According to the CDC, “15% of students reported misusing prescription Opioids.”
Not only are students at a higher risk due to opioid use, but deaths across the entirety of the United States have become wildly more apparent. Yale School Of Medicine affirms these claims by declaring that, “Since 2013 pediatric deaths from fentanyl have risen 3000%.”
Naloxone (nuh-lahk-sohn), commonly known as Narcan, is a medication that is utilized to reverse the results of a potential opioid overdose. Naloxone’s slogan consists of a nasal spray ”treatment designed to rapidly reverse the effects of a life threatening emergency.”
The medication reverses the effects of an overdose within two to three minutes after being administered. Naloxone is FDA approved to be sold over the counter at an average of twenty five dollars resulting in easy and affordable access to those in need.
Having access to Naloxone is a significant issue within schools as it can mean the difference between life or death for a student. Currently within Rangeview High School Naloxone is only accessible in the nurse’s office located at the front of the school. Nurse Claire Schneider expressed she was unsure why Naloxone is only located in her office. Showcasing why having access schoolwide to Narcan Is essential as most students are not concentrated directly at the front of the school.
Without Naloxone overdose emergency kits implemented into Rangeview High School, we can not begin the first essential step in creating an environment that promotes opioid first aid training and education. Overdose emergency kits can be purchased for seventy dollars. These kits would then be placed in each main section of the school. At the minimum three boxes located on each level to create the highest accessibility.
Adults with proper training to administer Naloxone is essential in the process of creating an overdose free environment. Implementing Naloxone emergency kits into different sections of the school can become pointless if there are limited staff members trained to administer the medication. Currently hall monitors and few admin have training on how to administer the medication. Although having administrators trained is a wonderful start, training and education amongst teachers would make a larger impact on students safety schoolwide.
To get insight on the cause behind lack of certification to administer Narcan, English teacher, Jason Oulman, pointed out that many teachers do not obtain training due lack of knowledge about the medication. Oulman stated he believes, “Narcan training should be included within first aid certification.”
Although opioid overdoses in students is not an everyday occurence at Rangeview should strive to create an environment that is proactive. Health and safety of students should always remain at the top of Rangeview’s priorities. Implementing proper training, accessibility, and knowledge to the Rangeview faculty would become the first step in becoming a progressive environment.
