Region 16 school board approves Narcan policy

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REGION 16 — The Region 16 Board of Education last week gave its final approval to a policy covering the use of Narcan, paving the way for the drug used to combat an opioid overdose to be available in schools.

Last fall, the Board of Education, which oversees schools in Beacon Falls and Prospect, supported the plan to keep Narcan kits at each of the district’s four schools. In January, 33 staff members received training in how to administer the nasal spray form of Narcan, which is what will be kept in the schools.

Over that the time, officials crafted a policy to guide the use of Narcan.

One Narcan spray will be kept in each school’s nurse’s office and another will be kept in an unlocked case in a public area. School officials have said carrying Narcan in schools is a proactive step due to the dramatic increase in opioid usage and overdoses across the state. They said there have been no issues with students and they want the drug available at schools for the community.

Superintendent of Schools Michael Yamin said last week that Narcan was available in the nurse’s offices, and officials were waiting for the cases to arrive for the kits that will be available for the public. He said the cases were expected to arrive this week.

Region 16 worked with the Central Naugatuck Valley Regional Action Council to obtain the Narcan kits through a program and grant funding. Each kit has a shelf life of two years.