WILMINGTON, MA — Wilmington school nurses will soon be carrying Narcan, a life-saving medication that reverses the effects of a drug overdose.
Wilmington School Nurse Leader Doreen Crowe made the announcement in a presentation to the Wilmington School Committee at its meeting last week.
“Narcan is the only effective medication to reverse an opiod overdose,” explained Crowe. “It is safe. It’s effective. It has no potential for abuse. It’s been used by paramedics, hospitals, and emergency rooms for many decades.”
The number of fatal overdoses in Massachusetts has more than doubled over the past four years, from 526 in 2010 to 1,089 in 2014, according to Crowe.
“In 2014, when the Massachusetts Department of Public Health recognized this significant rise, Governor Patrick issued a public health state of emergency, allowing first responders to carry and administer Narcan,” explained Crowe.
Nurses in more than 75 school districts across the state have also recently begun to carry Narcan.
Stocking narcan in schools is now supported by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Center for Disease Control, the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, and the National Association of School Nurses.
Crowe addressed some of the concerns around utilizing Narcan, noting it will only be administered by trained school nurses and substitute nurses. Crowe also noted that Narcan has no major side effects and there’s no risk of needle sticking or concerns with needle disposal as the medication will be administered through the nose.
Crowe compared the medication to other life-saving tools already in Wilmington Public Schools schools, including Epi-Pens and defibrillators.
“We know there’s an opiod problem. It’s clearly a health crisis,” said Crowe. “Just like having epinephrine on hand, and AEDs in our schools, we hope we never have to use Narcan, but we’ll feel confident that we’ll have it available if we need it.”
The Superintendent and School Committee welcomed the news.
“I commend the nurses who were very proactive on this issue,” said Superintendent Mary DeLai. “They really wanted to have this tool among the many tools that they have to address life-threatening issues.”
In response to a question from School Committee member Manny Mulas, DeLai noted that the Wilmington Fire Department already carries Narcan and the Wilmington Police Department, including School Resource Officers, plans on beginning to do so soon.
“You have been in the forefront for us,” School Committee Chair Peggy Kane told Crowe. “I’m so impressed that whenever anything new is coming down the pike, you look into it, you take the training, you do what you need to do, and you bring it forward to the school department. You’ve done such a great job. We appreciate your efforts and your staff’s efforts.”
The school district’s medication policy already covered the use of Narcan in schools, so the School Committee did not need to take a vote.
Crowe noted that Narcan training is free and provided by the state. The cost of Narcan varies widely, with the district anticipating paying $20-$60 per dose.
Watch the 10-minute discussion below, courtesy of Wilmington Community Television, beginning at the 9-minute, 50-second mark.
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