Dupage Policy Journal

The Lisle school board had a discussion over recent changes in restrictions on NARCAN, a medication that can stop opioid overdoses and save lives, and on training teachers how to use it. 

"Things are getting, you know, pretty bad," Justin Louis, Lisle High School resource officer said. "So you never know when you're going to need it. And the medicine is free, the training is easy. I don't see a downside to having it readily available to any staff member that wants to use it."

The school board had a first discussion on recent changes to recent updates in policies regarding administering medication to students. Part of these updates would be a removal of the difficult processes required in order to have school faculty trained in and possessing NARCAN. With this change, the board is looking to have faculty in each building trained and a supply housed in the schools. 

NARCAN is a nasal spray medication that works by blocking the receptors in the brain that opioids have an effect on and stops those effects. It is completely safe to use on everyone and has zero negative side effects, even on other preexisting medical conditions.

The training for school faculty would take about an hour to complete. The school can have a supply of NARCAN from the local police department as they need, and the school resource officer currently has access to NARCAN as well and has used it on multiple occasions, citing its success to the board and the community members at the meeting.