Durango School District 9-R has finalized its policy for allowing students to carry and administer Narcan on campus following a three-month dialogue between students and district officials.
The new policy, called the “Administration of Opioid Antagonists,” includes guidelines and procedures for governing the utilization and administration of opioid antagonists by trained staff and students.
The policy also includes a parental permission form stipulating that the use of Narcan “shall be at the Student’s and Parents’ sole risk.”
The drug, which can reverse opioid overdose, has been available on 9-R campuses by trained staff members. But the school’s alcohol and drug-use policy penalized students for carrying it on campus.
This led to a three-month dialogue between students and school district officials about whether the district should allow students to carry Narcan on campus despite it being unprecedented in Colorado.
On March 29, the 9-R Board of Education voted to allow the district to assume the legal risk of allowing students to administer Narcan on campus. This gave 9-R Superintendent Karen Cheser and district staff the ability to draft a policy that allowed students to carry the drug.
Even nationally, few districts have agreed to allow students to administration Narcan on campus. Arlington County Public Schools in Virginia is one of the recent districts to vote in favor of it.
The Federal Drug Administration approved over-the-counter access of Narcan on March 30, which could lead to more school districts allowing students to carry it and administer it on campus.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show median monthly overdose deaths increased 109% among people aged 10-19 from July through December 2019 to July through December 2021. The national epidemic, along with personal stories of students dealing with substance abuse, drove students to take action in January. However, there have been no overdoses at any of the district’s 11 schools.
“We’re committed to the safety of our staff and students,” Cheser said. “Our actions reflect this commitment. We took great care to listen to students and experts, research extensively, and created a document that protects everyone to the best of our ability. Our schools will be the first in the state and one of the first in the nation to adopt this policy. When there’s a lot at stake, these things can’t be rushed.”
The policy says that properly trained students who administer Narcan in accordance with the policy do so as “agents” of the district and shall not be liable for certain civil damages and criminal prosecutions. It also says students will not face disciplinary action for refusing to be trained in the administration of an opioid antagonist.
The policy also provides guidelines for what should be done after administering Narcan.
“After administration of the opioid antagonist, the trained staff member or trained student who administered the opioid antagonist will immediately notify the building principal or designee,” the policy says.
The principal will then follow the Colorado Department of Education which includes ensuring the overdose victim was taken to an emergency department, notifying appropriate student services and parent/guardian, and providing substance abuse prevention resources to the overdose victim and family, as appropriate.
“This is a new responsibility for our school health care providers, and I appreciate them willingly taking this on,” said Board President Kristin Smith. “I feel so much better knowing we have trained professionals taking ownership of this.”
The district said substance-use prevention is an ongoing effort. Staff is working to increase programs and outreach so students will avoid fentanyl and other drugs.
9-R spokeswoman Karla Sluis said the district is awaiting a supply of Narcan for distribution and hopes to begin training sessions for students by the end of the school year.
tbrown@durangoherald.com
