Why Des Moines is joining the growing list of US districts putting Narcan in its schools

Des Moines Public Schools is joining school districts across the country that have begun keeping medication on hand to counteract suspected opioid overdoses.

The Des Moines School Board unanimously approved a policy Tuesday night that allows school nurses and selected staff to administer naloxone, also known as Narcan, a powerful drug that temporarily reverses the deadly effects of opioids.

In school board documents, officials cite 11 times during the 2021-22 school year where district nurses would have used naloxone on students if it had been available. None of those students died, officials said, but the influx of deadly overdoses nationwide shows the danger is real.

In 2021, Iowa saw 479 fatal opioid overdoses — up 12% from the previous year, provisional Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows.

"As a school nurse, we all want every tool available in our toolkit," said Melissa Abbott, Des Moines schools' health services supervisor.

Why DMPS is making the move now to naloxone

The move to bring naloxone to all of Des Moines' schools was made possible by the signing of Iowa House File 2573 in June, which allows the state's school districts to keep the drug on hand and created a fund to cover the cost.

Opinion: How a new state law will help save Iowans from the harms of opioid overdose

Training for Des Moines schools' 68 nurses on how to administer naloxone and identify signs of an overdose began Sept. 30 ahead of the board's presumed acceptance of the policy.

The board supports the policy, school board Chair Dwana Bradley told the Des Moines Register.

Across the country, school districts have passed policies to make naloxone available to school staff. It is unclear how many Iowa school districts have adopted similar policies.

The national conversation around naloxone in schools intensified around 2015 when opioid use and deaths reached a "crisis point," said Donna Mazyck, National Association of School Nurses executive director.

"Decisions were made to stock naloxone in schools to deal with it as an emergency preparedness and response issue to effectively manage opioid-related overdoses in the school building," Mazyck said.

Rekha Basu: A mother's failed struggle to save her son prompts her to push more open talk about addiction

Schools are experiencing 'near misses,' deaths

In recent weeks, school districts in California, Oregon, Hawaii and Kansas have begun the process of bringing naloxone to campus.

"Those districts, that I've read about recently, that are moving to stock naloxone, they're seeing an uptick in opioid deaths," Mazyck said. "And, as I call them, near misses in their community, and so they're looking at what they can do to reduce that harm."

In Iowa, the Lamoni Community School District ― a rural district with 325 students ― passed a policy last year after its school nurse broached the topic, Superintendent Chris Coffelt said. The policy is part of a larger effort to ensure staff members are prepared for emergencies.

The district never meant to be ahead of the curve when it came to stocking naloxone, Coffelt said.

"It didn't seem like a very big decision at the time," he said.

Besides naloxone, experts urge school officials to address opioid use outside of school.

"Community prevention education is key when addressing this public health crisis," Mazyck said. "School nurses can also partner with their local school communities and the greater community to bring some of that prevention education."

With the adoption of the policy, Des Moines district officials will now apply for the medication through the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

What is Narcan or naloxone?

Narcan is the brand name of naloxone, which is a non-narcotic that can restore breathing in a person who’s overdosing from opioid use.

Typically, it is sprayed into one nostril, then the other, blocking the opioid receptors in the brain. That allows a temporary block of the narcotic (fentanyl, pills, heroin) and pulls the person out of the overdose by restarting their breathing.

If Narcan is used on someone who passed out, or is otherwise ill, including having ingested a drug that is not an opioid (such as methamphetamine or cocaine), it will do nothing. If it is accidentally sprayed in the nostrils by a child or anyone else, it causes no harm ― except to hurt a bit as if you squirted water up your nostril.

People who use Narcan are asked to call 911 as well because the effect will wear off, and it’s possible that someone will go back into an overdose, usually within about 90 minutes.

Cincinnati Enquirer reporter Terry DeMio contributed to this story

Samantha Hernandez covers education for the Register. Reach her at (515) 851-0982 or svhernandez@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @svhernandez or Facebook at facebook.com/svhernandezreporter.