Loudoun Schools Weigh Student Naloxone Policy Amid Opioid Crisis

Loudoun County School Board is contemplating a policy that would permit students aged 16 and above to carry naloxone on school premises. This consideration comes as part of the district's ongoing efforts to address the growing concern of youth opioid overdoses.

The proposed policy change, initiated at the request of Superintendent Aaron Spence, has been added to the student medication policy by a school board committee. The full board is expected to discuss and vote on this measure in the fall of 2024. If approved, students who are trained in naloxone administration would be allowed to carry the life-saving drug on school grounds.

This initiative is not unique to Loudoun County. Neighboring school divisions, including Fairfax and Arlington Counties, have already implemented similar measures, allowing students to carry and administer Narcan, a common brand name for naloxone.

The consideration of this policy is part of a broader strategy to combat the opioid crisis affecting youth. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid approximately 100 times more potent than morphine, has been identified as the primary driver of the surge in teen overdoses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fentanyl was involved in 84% of adolescent overdose deaths from 2019 to 2021.

Loudoun County has witnessed a concerning trend in youth overdoses. The sheriff's office reported:

• 22 nonfatal opioid overdoses among juveniles in 2023
• 17 nonfatal overdoses in 2022
• 3 nonfatal overdoses in 2021

While these numbers have shown a slight decrease in 2024, with seven nonfatal youth overdoses reported by the start of the school year on August 22, 2024, school officials remain vigilant.

Superintendent Spence recently communicated with parents about a student hospitalized for a nonfatal overdose, emphasizing the ongoing challenge of substance abuse among students.

"While our children were enjoying their summer and away from school, some struggled with addiction or experimented with dangerous substances. Opioid use continues to be a local, state and national issue, and we are grappling with how best to navigate it as a school division."

The proposed policy stipulates that students should notify a staff member if they administer naloxone at school, and staff members should immediately assist and inform the school nurse and administration.

Naloxone, first patented in 1961 and approved for opioid overdose treatment in 1971, works by blocking opioid receptor sites, effectively reversing the toxic effects of an overdose. It is commonly distributed as a nasal spray and is safe to use even on individuals who are unconscious but not experiencing an opioid overdose.

The Loudoun County School Board's consideration of this policy reflects a broader national trend. In 2019, the US Surgeon General issued an advisory recommending that more Americans carry naloxone. This recommendation, coupled with the fact that fentanyl became the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45 in 2021, underscores the critical nature of accessible overdose reversal medications.

As Loudoun County Public Schools, the third-largest school district in Virginia as of 2023, continues to address this issue, the proposed naloxone policy represents a significant step in empowering students to potentially save lives in emergency situations.