N.J. bill would require naloxone in high schools

A New Jersey assemblyman plans to introduce legislation to require high schools to carry naloxone, which can reverse the effects of a heroin overdose.

School nurses would administer the opioid antidote under the proposal from Atlantic County Democrat Vincent Mazzeo.

Mazzeo said Friday that he did not propose the measure in response to students overdosing in school. He said the state needs to be "proactive" in preventing heroin deaths.

"It's a very good tool in saving lives," Mazzeo said of naloxone, noting that emergency medical technicians and police carry it.

Gov. Christie has backed initiatives to increase the availability of naloxone, known as Narcan and other trade names, in the state, including training and equipping police and first responders to administer the antidote, and providing immunity to first responders who administer it.

Mazzeo's proposal, which would apply to both public and private high schools, would provide immunity to school nurses and other school employees.

The bill would require the state Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Human Services and medical experts, to provide guidelines for mandatory training of school nurses and other designated employees to administer the antidote.

In May, state education officials sent a memo to local school officials saying it was the state's position that districts "may develop and adopt policies to maintain and administer" naloxone hydrochloride or any similar drug "to any student, school personnel, or other person believed to be experiencing an opioid overdose during school hours or during on-site, school-sponsored activities."

Frank Belluscio, spokesman for the New Jersey School Boards Association, said in an email Friday that "there has been interest among school districts in adopting such policies." Belluscio, who said the association has been working with Mazzeo, did not have information on school districts currently carrying the antidote.

Mazzeo, who plans to introduce his bill when the Assembly meets in September, said he did not know of schools carrying Narcan.

His proposal would require high schools to maintain a supply of antidotes. Mazzeo said the cost per dose could range from $35 to $85.

"It's not a huge cost, and when you're talking about saving lives, it's a minimal cost," he said.

In addition to the school boards association, the New Jersey State School Nurses Association and New Jersey Education Association support the proposal, according to Mazzeo.

In 2014-15, there were 62 reports of use, possession, or distribution of narcotics/opioids in New Jersey public schools, according to a report by the state education commissioner. The highest number of substance use, possession, or distribution reports were for marijuana (2,292) and alcohol (405).

A spokeswoman for the state Health Department said the department receives opioid overdose information from death certificates, which are not tracked by school.

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