Naloxone in Schools
To help protect the health and well-being of students, the Pennsylvania Departments of Health, Education, State, and Drug and Alcohol Programs request that all school districts allow the emergency administration of naloxone. Naloxone is a medication that can reverse an overdose caused by an opioid drug (illegal drugs such as heroin, as well as prescription medications used to treat pain such as morphine, codeine, methadone, oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, hydromorphone, and buprenorphine). As a narcotic antagonist, Naloxone displaces opiates from receptor sites in the brain and reverses respiratory depression that usually is the cause of overdose deaths.
How do I know if someone is overdosing on opioids?
Opioid High vs. Opioid Overdose*
| Opioid High | Opioid Overdose |
|---|---|
| Relaxed muscles | Pale, clammy skin |
| Speech slowed, slurred | Speech Infrequent |
| Breathing | Not breathing or very shallow breathing |
| Appears sleepy, nodding off | Deep snoring or gurgling sounds |
| Responds to stimuli | Unresponsive to stimuli (calling name, shaking, sternal rub) |
| Normal heart beat/pulse | Slow heart beat/pulse |
| Normal skin color | Cyanotic skin color (blue lips. Fingertips) |
| Pinpoint pupils |
The following tips can help you or a loved one avoid opioid overdose:
- Take medicine as prescribed by your doctor
- Do not take more medication or take it more often than instructed
- Never mix pain medicines with alcohol, sleeping pills, or illicit substances
- Store medicine safely where children cannot reach it
- Dispose of unused medication promptly
The state of Pennsylvania offers protection from criminal prosecution or civil liability to those who report suspected overdoses or administer Naloxone in overdose emergencies. Please review the links below for further information concerning those protections.