With drug overdoses on the rise all over the country, according to the Los Angeles Times, it’s important to know about the life-saving medicine, Narcan.
What is Narcan? Narcan is a one-use, over-the-counter nasal spray that can reverse overdoses caused by opioids such as fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, morphine, and opium.
Narcan is a life-saving medicine, but what good does it do if you know about it but don’t know how to use it? Don’t worry, using Narcan is simple, and here are the steps you take in order to use it properly.
How to Use Narcan
- Check for overdose symptoms (shallow breathing, confusion, lessened alertness, and unconsciousness); if the person is unresponsive, it’s time to move to step two.
- Lay the individual on their back and place your hand under their neck to tilt their head up.
- Insert the Narcan device in either nostril and firmly press the plunger at the bottom of the device. If the individual is still unresponsive, stay and call 911.
- Continue giving as many doses as needed until the individual is responsive.
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, drugs are more accessible to young adolescents, especially to those who are in high school. In high school, kids can be easily peer pressured and influenced into using narcotics, according to a rehabilitation program known as Teensavers.
Unfortunately, this trend has reached LAUSD.
“There was another LAUSD school where a student overdosed on fentanyl without access to Narcan,” said assistant principal Crystal Dukes.
“There’s been an increase of overdoses on fentanyl around the world, and unfortunately it’s beginning to affect the schools in LAUSD.”
Why are we allowed to carry a medicated drug like Narcan on campus, but aren’t allowed to carry other medicated drugs?
Nurse Jaslyn Taylor, more commonly known as “Nurse Jazzy,” says all medication belongs in the nurse’s office due to the school’s “No Drug” policy.
“If you need to carry your own medication, you need a doctor’s note,” she said. “Otherwise, it has to be brought to the office for us to hold onto it until you need it.”
Is there more to the reason why we can’t carry our own medicated drugs around campus?
“It’s more about safety,” said Margarita Oku. “We don’t want a child to overdose on school grounds or overdose in general.”
We all know that unmonitored opioid usage is extremely dangerous. If unmonitored, opioid usage can result in brain damage, worsening struggles with mental health, organ failure, and potentially death.
Narcan can be a life-saving tool, and if a teen on campus were to overdose, Narcan can save their life in seconds.
