In a bid to combat the opioid crisis, New Jersey is providing all school districts with naloxone, a drug that reverses opioid overdoses, at no cost. The initiative, announced on September 13, 2024, is a result of a 2018 law signed by Governor Phil Murphy that requires schools to keep opioid antidotes on hand. The move aims to protect students and staff by ensuring schools have opioid antidotes available.
Naloxone, also known by its initial brand name, Narcan, can reverse an overdose from opioids — including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid medications — when given in time, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The drug can be administered via nasal spray or injection without medical training.
To obtain naloxone, school districts must place orders through their respective County Office. Each naloxone case contains 12 nasal sprays, or 24 total doses. Students will not have direct access to the cases. Certified school nurses have the primary responsibility for the emergency administration of naloxone. In the event a nurse is not present, school employees designated and trained by the school district will administer the naloxone.
The initiative coincides with First Lady Tammy Murphy’s visit to Bayside High School in Virginia to participate in a bipartisan discussion on fentanyl awareness. “We know that preparation is key and that having naloxone readily available can mean the difference between life and death,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “If providing our schools with this safe, fast-acting overdose reversal medication saves just one life, it will have been worth it.”
The move comes as the state and the nation grapple with an opioid crisis. In 2016, overdose deaths from synthetic opioids, mainly fentanyl, surpassed deaths from heroin and prescription drugs. Opioids include the illegal drug heroin, fentanyl, and prescription pain relievers, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine.