Use heroin antidote in schools

I am dismayed at the recent decision of Fayette County public school officials to turn down the offer of Narcan; our school administrators do not believe that overdoses are a problem “at this time.”

Narcan, offered to our schools at no charge, ounteracts opiate overdose. Narcan serves as an antidote not just for heroin but for other opiates, which could include overdoses from the use of grandma’s pain pills, for example.

Narcan is a simple to use nasal spray that is highly effective in opioid overdose, proven to reduce deaths.

A review of data published in the Herald-Leader reveals drug overdose deaths were up 30 percent in Lexington in 2014, with 112 deaths from overdose. Although it is difficult to predict the possible problems or deaths in our teen populations, denying that there is or could be a problem while having a possible solution that could be lifesaving is unfathomable and shortsighted and a potential tragedy.

I urge our educators to reconsider this poor decision.

This story was originally published April 30, 2016 at 11:34 AM with the headline "Use heroin antidote in schools."