Davidson County Schools approve use of Narcan in school
The Davidson County Schools Board of Education unanimously approved a policy to allow the use of Naloxone as an emergency life-saving treatment for overdoses in the district’s middle and high schools.
Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, has been approved by the Federal Drug Administration as safe to use for the life-saving application during a suspected opioid overdose.
According to the school policy, Narcan will be available in all 17 Davidson County middle and high schools within the next 30 days. The Naloxone will be stored with the school's emergency medical kit, and staff members will be trained by the Davidson County Department of Health in the administration of the emergency life-saving shots.
"As part of its commitment to providing a healthy and safe environment for students, employees, and visitors, the board establishes this policy to address the use of naloxone in emergency situations in schools to prevent opioid overdose deaths,” states the policy.
Davidson County Medical Ministries will supply two doses of Narcan to each school, according to the school district.
The adoption of the new policy comes as a long-awaited victory for Mike Loomis, founder of Race Against Drugs, who has been advocating for the availability of Narcan in local schools for several years.
“This will save lives,” said Loomis. “We have fought long and hard to get this policy in the schools... I want to thank the school board and Superintendent (Gregg) Slate for their cooperation as well as the battle they gave me.”
He said the policy is necessary because time is of the essence in the case of a suspected opioid overdose.
“This doesn’t depend on local law enforcement or emergency services to show up. It will allow the employees to administer the shot within the time needed to save a life. This is a win for the schools, a win for the students and a win for the community,” said Loomis.
Loomis, who lost his son several years ago to an opioid overdose, says he will continue to advocate for public accessibility of Narcan.
He frequently attends the meeting of the Davidson County Opioid Settlement Fund and the Davidson County Board of Commissioners to address the concerns and needs of combating opioid addiction in the county.
“It shouldn’t have to be this hard,” said Loomis. “We should all want to do whatever we can to prevent the death of another person because of opioids. I am happy to see Davidson County Schools adopt this policy, but there is still a lot more work to be done in this county.”
