Volusia County Schools Now Carry Narcan

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – All public schools in Volusia County will now be stocked with narcan, according to district leadership. The initiative will provide an important resource in combating the dangers of opioid use by the county’s youth. The initial report, posted by WESH 2 News, included an explanation from Volusia County Schools Director of Safety and Security Todd Smith. According to Smith, students who vape are at risk of encountering vape pens laced with fentanyl. Usually used in a nasal spray, naxolone (the chemical in narcan) works to counteract the effects of an opioid overdose to preserve the victim until emergency responders arrive. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) advises that in over one third of overdose deaths occur with bystanders present, and so an observer of the overdose could save a life if they have naxolone to administer quickly. Narcan is carried in a small nasal spray device which can fit in most pockets or backpacks. Students are encouraged to keep narcan on them in the event one of their classmates experiences an opioid overdose.