MANCHESTER, YORK COUNTY, Pa.-- Pennsylvania schools are now preparing to treat overdoses as the opioid abuse crisis continues. School across the state now have the option of carrying Narcan.
There are 128 public high schools, including charter, intermediate units, and career and technical centers now using the drug to combat overdoses. Northeastern High School is one of more than 10 schools in York County using the drug provided by the State Department of Health.
"The worst nightmare of any school would be a student dying of an overdose," Northeastern High School Principal Mathew Gay said. "If we have some tool that can we can use to try and prevent that from happening, we want that end."
The school received two doses of Narcan Thursday afternoon. The drug is provided by pharmaceutical company, Adapt Pharma. Trained school staff can administer the Narcan to anyone who is overdosed.
"We will be continuing our education efforts," Secretary of the Department of Health Dr. Karen Murphy said. "Our goal is 100 percent of the schools. We will be working toward that end."
According to the Department of Health, Pennsylvania is the first state to implement what will serve as a model partnership program for other states.
"When we look at the drug problem, it's not only protection for the students, but for visitors of the school, it's anyone that would suffer an overdose," Dr. Murphy said.
She says they will continue to work on getting Narcan in all public schools.
Nacrcan can be obtained by anyone in the state by filling a prescription from a health care provider or by using the standing order by Pennsylvania Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine.