OHIO — As overdose deaths involving teenagers continue to rise across the United States, more and more school districts are deciding to carry Narcan, the medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. In 2017, the Akron Public Schools in Ohio voted to make Narcan available on middle and high school campuses, and since then, several other Ohio districts have considered following suit.
According to the Ohio Department of Health, from 2015 to 2020, the state saw 1,774 overdose deaths involving individuals between the ages of 15 and 24, and 24 overdose deaths under the age of 15.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is the leading cause of accidental overdose deaths in the country.
In California, lawmakers are moving to make Narcan availability mandatory in schools. The Los Angeles Times reports that legislation introduced by both political parties aims to increase awareness about the presence of the potentially deadly drug fentanyl on K-12 school campuses and to make Narcan readily available.
Across the Scioto Valley, Pike, and Scioto counties have the highest number of overall overdose deaths of any age group.
In response to the ongoing crisis, Take Charge Ohio, an initiative to help minimize the risk of drug misuse, dependency, and addiction, released a Narcan Policy brief in 2020 to educate schools on the need for onsite Narcan availability.
One local parent, speaking to The Guardian, said that having Narcan in schools is a good idea. “It is the sad reality of the world we live in. Kids can easily find themselves pulled into the grips of addiction. We need to get a handle on the availability of these dangerous drugs, until we do, we have to do what we can to save our children.”
