Are high school students permitted to carry naloxone/narcan

[Anonymous]

Not wanting to debate whether or not they should. If a high schooler is age > 14, trained in administration, would having a naloxone kit in their backpack be against MCPS policy? I'm aware that the schools have it on hand.

https://www.mymcmedia.org/mcps-raises-awareness-about-fentanyl-with-narcan-demonstration/

[Anonymous]

Here are the rules.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdf/jpcra.pdf

I’d say it’s an over the counter drug. There is no ability to get high from it or reason to abuse it.

[Anonymous]

This policy is also related. https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdf/ign.pdf

"As required by Maryland law, the superintendent of schools shall establish
procedures to provide emergency medical care to any student, or other person
located on school property, who is reasonably believed to be experiencing an opioid
overdose.
a) The school nurse, school health services personnel, and other school
personnel identified by the superintendent of schools or designee, are
authorized to administer Naloxone or other overdose-reversing medication
to a student or other person located on school property.
b) The superintendent of schools shall develop and implement procedures to:
(1) obtain and store, at schools, Naloxone or other overdose–reversing
medication to be used in an emergency situation; and
(2) notify parents or guardians of students of such procedures at the
beginning of each school year."

I agree that carrying it seems like it falls under over the counter medication. Using it on another student off school property would fall under Good Samaritan Law. If an incident occurs inside the school, the nurse & security/admin should be notified first - let the medically trained adults assess the situation first.

[Anonymous]

Thanks to PPs who pointed me to the relevant policies. Agreed that at school, medically trained adults would be able to handle it. DC wants to carry it in their backpack, and I just wanted to make sure that couldn't get them in trouble. I hadn't been thinking of it as an over-the-counter medication but now after reading the definition I think it qualifies.

[Anonymous]

Everyone who can access it - should. I hope schools start keeping it and training more staff to use it.

[Anonymous]

It would be ironic if they allowed kids to carry it in school considering they don’t allow kids to carry Advils- so stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would be ironic if they allowed kids to carry it in school considering they don’t allow kids to carry Advils- so stupid.

Why would that be ironic? What conditions can lead to death if Advil administration is delayed by the amount of time it takes a kid to walk to the nurse?

Kids can carry other emergency medication that prevents death. Rescue meds for seizures, epi pens and inhalers are all allowed to be self carried. That is the same category here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would be ironic if they allowed kids to carry it in school considering they don’t allow kids to carry Advils- so stupid.

Why would that be ironic? What conditions can lead to death if Advil administration is delayed by the amount of time it takes a kid to walk to the nurse?

Kids can carry other emergency medication that prevents death. Rescue meds for seizures, epi pens and inhalers are all allowed to be self carried. That is the same category here.

This.

[Anonymous]

Just to save people from arguing the wrong thing... Technically, Naloxone is not an over the counter drug. It is a dispensed drug that happens to have a standing order allowing anyone to get from the pharmacist.
https://health.maryland.gov/pha/NALOXONE/Pages/Statewide-Standing-Order.aspx

Probably best to ask the school admins their interpretation of school policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks to PPs who pointed me to the relevant policies. Agreed that at school, medically trained adults would be able to handle it. DC wants to carry it in their backpack, and I just wanted to make sure that couldn't get them in trouble. I hadn't been thinking of it as an over-the-counter medication but now after reading the definition I think it qualifies.

Unless your child is a rule-follower, I would say: let DC carry it in their backpack, we hope they will never have occasion to use it, and if they get in trouble for it, raise a huge ruckus. Easier to ask forgiveness than permission. But that's not a philosophy rule-followers are comfortable with, and in that case, I agree with the PP to ask MCPS for clarification.

[Anonymous]

MCPS concerned about fentanyl.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2022/12/15/urgent-message-from-mcps-warns-of-increased-fentanyl-overdoses/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not wanting to debate whether or not they should. If a high schooler is age > 14, trained in administration, would having a naloxone kit in their backpack be against MCPS policy? I'm aware that the schools have it on hand.

https://www.mymcmedia.org/mcps-raises-awareness-about-fentanyl-with-narcan-demonstration/

Excellent hypothetical troll!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not wanting to debate whether or not they should. If a high schooler is age > 14, trained in administration, would having a naloxone kit in their backpack be against MCPS policy? I'm aware that the schools have it on hand.

https://www.mymcmedia.org/mcps-raises-awareness-about-fentanyl-with-narcan-demonstration/

Excellent hypothetical troll!

Ha! OP here. I really do have a high schooler who wants to carry naloxone in their backpack. We’re a family of rule followers though…so I wanted to make sure it wasn’t against any rule…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks to PPs who pointed me to the relevant policies. Agreed that at school, medically trained adults would be able to handle it. DC wants to carry it in their backpack, and I just wanted to make sure that couldn't get them in trouble. I hadn't been thinking of it as an over-the-counter medication but now after reading the definition I think it qualifies.

Unless your child is a rule-follower, I would say: let DC carry it in their backpack, we hope they will never have occasion to use it, and if they get in trouble for it, raise a huge ruckus. Easier to ask forgiveness than permission. But that's not a philosophy rule-followers are comfortable with, and in that case, I agree with the PP to ask MCPS for clarification.

Advil poster from above. I agree with that. BTW- My daughter’s friend used to carry around a tic-tac container full of Advil because she had frequent headaches and it was annoying to go to the school nurse. Friends would often ask her Advil if they felt sick. If my kids had frequent headaches I would do the same. I’d rather my straight A never in trouble kids risking “expulsion” for carrying around Advil than getting it from a “friend”, which creates its own issues. And in the super unlikely event my kid got in trouble for carrying Advil, I’d ask to take it to a lab to confirm the substance was really Advil and raise a huge ruckus about expelling a kid for taking Advil.

[Anonymous]

Are you kidding me?