Narcan In Schools Bill Advances In New Jersey

BELLEVILLE, NJ — A proposed law that would require high schools throughout the state to stock a supply of “lifesaving opioid antidote” in case of drug overdoses cleared a crucial hurdle Thursday when the New Jersey Senate Education Committee approved it 5-0.

The bill, S-1830, now heads to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee for further consideration.

If it becomes law, the bill would place the responsibility for administering the drugs – which are used to counteract overdoses from narcotics such as heroin – in the hands of school nurses, or other school staff in the event the nurse isn’t present.

School officials would be able to administer opioid antidotes to students, staff members or anyone experiencing an opioid overdose. They wouldn’t be subject to any criminal or civil liability or any professional disciplinary action as long as they act in “good faith.”

Any school with grades 9, 10, 11 or 12 would be required to maintain a supply of the antidote in a secure and accessible location. All other schools would be given express permission to keep a supply on hand.

The opioid antidotes would have to be accessible during regular school hours and during school-sponsored functions that take place on campus. Districts could also choose to make opioid antidotes accessible during school-sponsored functions that take place off campus.

Acceptable medications would include naloxone – sold under several brand names such as Narcan, Nalone and Evzio – or any other “similarly acting drug” approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of an opioid overdose.

The bill’s sponsors, Senate Education Chair M. Teresa Ruiz and Senator Christopher Bateman, said that the potential law would require governing bodies of public and private schools to develop policies - pursuant to Department of Education guidelines - for the emergency administration of an opioid antidote.

“No community is immune to the tragic opioid epidemic plaguing our state,” said Ruiz (District 29), who represents parts of Newark and Belleville.

“If having an opioid antidote available and administrable in schools saves even a single life, this bill will be well worth it,” Ruiz said. “It is not enough to work to prevent opioid addictions… we must also work to reverse the catastrophic effects of the disease once it has taken hold.”

• See related article: 30 NJ Towns With The Most Heroin Abuse, New Data Says
• See related article: ‘The Addiction Industry’: Opioid Treatment Needs To Change, Scientist Says
• See related article: Offering Counseling After Narcan Saves Effective, Prosecutor Says

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