As overdoses continue to grow nationally and globally, LCPS board members are considering new revisions to Policy 8420 that allows students to carry NARCAN to ensure safety and combat overdoses in the learning environment.

The year 2015 was a turning point for American citizens as overdoses connected to fentanyl have skyrocketed. In early 2024, more than 2.1 million people have developed an Opioid use disorder (OUD), with people’s use ranging from a “chronic dependency” to an addiction. Opioid abuse was a declared National Public Health emergency by former President Donald Trump in 2017, and there are more than 120,000 opioid related deaths worldwide each year. Seven years later, school systems are working to combat this growing issue.

Since 2023, there have been multiple reports of opioid related overdoses, specifically there have been eight recorded opioid overdoses in just one week at Park View High School. US News and World Report reported that an average of 22 teenagers died per week of overdoses in 2022, primarily connected to Fentanyl, many of the students who overdosed did not have a history of drug use. “That’s like losing an entire classroom of students every week,” said Algonkian District Board Member April Chandler.

However, over the years, multiple opioid reduction methods have been applied such as issuing NARCAN to Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) administrators in order to prevent overdoses in the learning environment. This year, the LCPS Board Committee is taking things further and are currently drafting a revision of Policy 8420.

Arlington County Public Schools have implemented a policy in which students 16 and older who have undergone NARCAN training are allowed to bring the nasal spray to school and use it on those who are overdosing in schools. NARCAN is a nasal spray designed to reverse the opioid effect on those who are in an opioid related emergency situation.

Policy 8420 currently states that “students that have medical documentation of a condition which requires access to a rescue inhaler, epinephrine, injectable insulin, or Glucagon, may be permitted to self- carry and self-administer these medications” with parent consent.

There are two new additions under consideration; the first would allow students to carry and self-administer pancreatic enzymes, hydrocortisone, or Solu-cortef. 

This policy states that school administrators can revoke these permissions if there is a misuse of the medication. 

The second proposed addition permits students 16 and older to bring NARCAN to school and use the spray on others when needed. This would require student and parent consent as well as student training prior to bringing NARCAN.

While the proposed policy includes many positives and helps address the ongoing and rising epidemic, it also has some drawbacks — mainly, the first part of the policy where students can bring their own medication into school, according to principal Dr. Brandon Wolfe. “If kids have prescription medication on them, I think that is a little more concerning just because of the potential for someone to steal them, sell, or abuse them, whereas with NARCAN, there are no opiates used for it, so it’s not something you could abuse or get high off of,” said Wolfe.

Of course, there are consequences that students will face if they break the rules and disobey the policy. Depending on the problem the punishment could be as severe as expulsion or suspension.

The policy was an action item at the Sep. 19 LCPS Board meeting. “Once the policy is revised and voted on by the committee, it is then sent to the full school board for a vote,” said Chandler. As of right now, the board is in favor of the new additions to the policy and more will be announced in the upcoming weeks as the final vote will occur at the October board meeting.