CMS approves Narcan on school campuses

CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board voted unanimously to approve Narcan in every school building.

Narcan is a nasal spray used to reverse an opioid overdose.

According to documents from the district, CMS plans to store doses of Narcan in AED cases that will be located in the front office of each school building.

School nurses will be trained on how to use the nasal spray. And if it ever needs to be administered, the district will have protocols for those steps. The training is ongoing.

“I think it’s a great idea, because harm reduction is the goal,” said Christine Zazzaro, CEO of McLeod Centers for Wellbeing.

The Charlotte-based organization helps people recover from substance-use disorders.

Some in the community question whether it’s a necessary measure for elementary-aged students.

Zazzaro said the opioid epidemic is everywhere and there is no way to know how it might affect you.

She tells her eight-year-old daughter there is no such thing as a safe pill.

“We have kids of all ages with families who have substance use disorders,” she said. “So, it’s not out of sight that they might come across medication that’s harmful or dangerous to them or bring it to school to give to a friend.”

VIDEO: CMS wants to supply campuses with Narcan

CMS wants to supply campuses with Narcan

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