Overdose deaths are on the rise, more than doubling over the last few years according to health professionals, as drugs like fentanyl continue to find their way into the hands of the unsuspecting, such as high school students.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug deaths among children ages 10 to 14 have risen to three times higher in 2020 than in 2019.
The New York State Department of Health continues to issue warnings, saying in a recent statement, "Fentanyl has made street drugs far more dangerous. Even casual or occasional drug use can result in an overdose or death. We all need to be able to recognize an overdose and have access to naloxone, the medication which reverses opioid overdoses and saves lives.”
As the dangers of overdose have crept into a younger pool of people, school policies are being reviewed in the case of an emergency. Moreover, it's an attempt to address this question: What is school policy for an overdose or for being able to administer Naloxone to try and revive a student?
The largest school district in Central New York has a standing order to allow school nurses to administer the nasal spray when vitals tell them there has been an overdose. At Henninger High School in Syracuse, the order has been life saving.
The school's registered nurse, Lorrie Poyneer works each day to ensure the students that walk the halls are healthy, and that includes providing immediate medical treatment if they accidentally ingest fentanyl or other drugs.
“It’s definitely a concern. We have had some issues. We do have Narcan that is available. I have in the past had to use it," said Poyneer.
Poyneer says they key to ensuring your child's safety is not to underestimate their access to dangerous drugs. How it’s accidentally ingested may surprise you, too.
“It is out there in the community. Our kids are resourceful. They are able to find things that probably we wouldn't be able to find. Sometimes I see different drugs in brownies. We live in a world now that you cannot just hand someone a brownie. Friends bake the brownies at home and give them to their friends and they innocently think they're just getting chocolate brownie,” said Poyneer.
She adds that the Syracuse City School District staff are proactive in educating students warning them of the dangers of fentanyl and it being hidden in other things.
“I tell all of our students not to take anything from friends, unfortunately. And not to eat anything that isn't sealed. You want to trust your friends but unfortunately it's not like that anymore. I also educate the students that no drugs react the same in each person's body. I could take something and that wouldn't affect me at all. Somebody else could take the same drug and they could be flat on the ground or worse," she added.
Poyneer said that positive peer pressure has major effects.
"The peer group at this age is huge and we tell each other to lean on each other in a positive way. If you see your buddy is not making good choices, let somebody know, let an adult know, so that something can be done and get your friends some help," said Poyneer.
If parents don’t know if their kid's school district allows for on-the-spot Narcan treatment for a potential overdose, they should contact their district office and nurse's office to find out their school's policy.
In recent years, Narcan kits have become widely available, as well as trainings for anyone interested in learning how to use them.
New York State pays for Narcan kits and ships them to county health departments statewide. You can call your county health department for more information on training and the kit.