Michigan Schools May Provide Naloxone

At the end of October, the Michigan Legislature examined a new law that would allow a “registered nurse or a trained school employee” to give naloxone to those who show signs of overdosing (Ferranti, 2016).

The bill is sponsored by Republican state Senator Dale Zorn and Democrat Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich and will allow school staff trained in naloxone administration or school nurses to use the drug to reverse overdoses. “We have to do what we can to protect them and school is where they spend a lot of their time,” stated Senator Ananich (Ferranti, 2016).

However, despite his statement that “In general, educators will do anything to keep students and staff safe,” Steve Tunnicliff from the Genesee Intermediate School District also “believes that asking staff to be prepared to use the overdose antidote is a little much” (Ferranti, 2016).

Naloxone may be administered via injection or nasal spray. According to addiction news website The Fix, “Almost forty states have enacted some kind of Good Samaritan law that provides immunity to those who call 911 during an overdose” (Ferranti, 2016).

References

Ferranti, S. (2016). Naloxone may be coming to Michigan schools. Retrieved from https://www.thefix.com/naloxone-may-be-coming-michigan-schools

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