Lee County public schools to stock Narcan
School District of Lee County schools will now have Narcan, a lifesaving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids.
Student Services Executive Director Dr. Jessica Duncan said Narcan is something they hope they never have to use, but it is another step to ensure students have access to everything they may need in schools to remain safe.
“Narcan saves lives. It is medication that rapidly reduces and reverses opioid overdoses from the likes of heroin, fentanyl and prescription medications such as oxycodone and hydrocodone,” Assistant Director for Health Services Wildaliz Colon said. “Narcan can quickly restore normal breathing to a person if the breathing has slowed or stopped because of an opioid overdose. Narcan should be given to any person who shows signs of an opioid overdose or when an overdose is suspected.”
Those signs and symptoms include limp body, clammy face, blue fingernails or lips, slowed breathing, or stopped breathing.
Narcan will be used as a nasal spray and can be repeated every two to three minutes as needed. It does not have any harmful effects on an individual who does not have an opioid in their system.
When it is administered, the school is calling 911 and waiting for emergency responders to respond, Colon said.
“Narcan nasal spray will be used by trained school personnel and any person in good faith who renders emergency care or emergency treatment for expected opioid overdose is immune from civil liability under the Good Samaritan Act,” Colon said.
Senate Bill 544 allows public schools to purchase a supply of Naloxone, a generic of Narcan, from a distributor or enter into an arrangement to have the medication on campus.
The district is working with Lee Health to provide a non-patient specific standing order and administration protocol for Narcan. The supply will be kept in the school clinic in proper storage.
School board members all agreed they are grateful for the district’s forward thinking in providing the medication for the schools.
“I think it is a scary topic, but it is a conversation that we have to have,” Board Member Melisa Giovannelli said. “At this point, I am excited we are going to have this in our schools. It’s a touchy subject for people, but it is the reality.”
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY / news@breezenewspapers.com, please email