The opioid epidemic has so far not reached the halls of Northampton Area High School or Northampton Area Middle School, but in the event of an overdose, Northampton Area School District personnel will be prepared.

The NASD Board of Education voted Monday 8-0, with one director absent and one director voting by phone, to approve a new policy, effective July 12, concerning Naloxone, a medication sold as Narcan and other brand names.

Naloxone can reverse an overdose caused by an opioid drug (i.e., prescription pain medication or heroin). Naloxone is said to block the effects of opioids on the brain and restore breathing within two to eight minutes.

NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph A. Kovalchik told a reporter for Northampton Press after the July 11 meeting that he was not aware of any incidents of opioid overdose that have occurred in the district.

Passage of the policy will allow high school and middle school nurses to administer Naloxone and clear the way for district teachers and administrators to take a training course to administer Naloxone.

“Anyone in the school district can do the training,” Kovalchik said. “Staff members can volunteer to take the training.”

It was not known as of the July 11 school board meeting whether the policy covers district elementary schools.

School districts in the Lehigh Valley, including Parkland School District, around the state and across the U.S. are adopting similar policies to cope with the opioid epidemic.

Among first responders, Naloxone is a first line of defense to prevent the surge in opioid overdose deaths in the U.S.

Opioid abuse has increased among young persons in recent years. Many times, high school students who use prescription pills begin to use heroin.

According to U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), opioid abuse is a serious public health issue. Each day, 44 people in the U.S. die from overdose of prescription drugs, called opioids (morphine, codeine, methadone, oxcycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, hydromorphone and buprenorphine), according to HHS.

The NASD policy was adopted under authority of the Pennsylvania Legislature Act 139 of 2014, which “allows first-responders, including law enforcement, fire-fighters, EMS or other organizations” the ability to administer Naloxone, most commonly by nasal spray or auto injector.

“The authorizing statute has been interpreted by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and others as including employees of school districts,” states NASD’s seven-page Naloxone policy, which will be posted on the district website.

“The policy was needed to administer Naloxone,” Attorney C. Steven Miller, NASD board solicitor, explained after the July 11 meeting. “Anyone who is trained can administer Naloxone,” Miller said.

The policy delineates delegations of responsibility, guidelines, standing order from the school physician, training, acquisition, storage and disposal of Naloxone, administration of Naloxone, notice to law enforcement and parent-guardian of incidents involving controlled substances, referral to student assistance program and indemnification.

During the meeting, school Director Robert Mentzell asked about the storage of the Naloxone. “I’m concerned about the number of doses floating around the district.”

“The number of doses is going to be tightly controlled,” Miller responded. “It will be under lock and key.”

“I can answer that the nurses will be in charge,” Kovalchik said.

After the meeting and the vote to adopt the policy, which he voted to approve, Mentzell said, “Now I’m confident.”

A package dose of Naloxone costs about $75.