Are Tarrant County schools ready to fight fentanyl overdoses? What the districts said

Earlier this month, Gov. Greg Abbott kickstarted new statewide initiatives in an effort to combat the fentanyl crisis.

The Texas governor launched a $10 million multimedia awareness program to inform Texans about the drug through Texas Health and Human Services. Abbott also announced a plan to distribute Narcan to all 254 Texas counties through the Texas Division of Emergency Management, per WFAA, which will soon distribute the first 20,000 units to Texas sheriff’s offices.

This was prompted by an increase in deaths from fentanyl in Texas, with the state’s opioid-related deaths surging from 114 per month in 2019 to 209 per month in 2021, according to Axios. Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as a pain reliever and anesthetic.

On March 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Narcan, the first naloxone product approved for use without a prescription. Narcan is a 4 milligram naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray for over-the-counter nonprescription use. Naloxone is a life-saving medication that quickly reverses opioid overdose effects and is the standard treatment for opioid overdose. It will now be available in drug stores, convenience stores, grocery stores and gas stations, as well as online.

A student at DeWitt Perry Middle School in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD was revived by Narcan on April 5. The district, which carries Narcan on all its campuses, had three students die from fentanyl overdoses this school year, and at least six others who have overdosed. North Texas school districts including Frisco ISD and Richardson ISD already have access to the treatment. Others are following suit, with Dallas ISD working on putting Narcan in schools after a March vote allowing it to do so.

We asked the 20 Tarrant County school districts whether they carry Narcan on their campuses and have staff trained to administer it. Here’s what they said.

Arlington ISD

We don’t currently stock NARCAN, but our health services team is working to determine if/how we could incorporate that on our campuses.

Azle ISD

Azle Police Department School Resource Officers and Azle ISD Police Officers have naloxone. All officers are authorized to use it, should the need arise.

Birdville ISD

The district has Narcan on campuses and trained staff.

Carroll ISD

Carroll ISD stocks Narcan on each of our 11 campuses. Our nurses and SROs are all trained on how to administer this.

Crowley ISD

The school district policy, updated in February, reads:

The District shall purchase and store opioid antagonist medication, such as Naloxone, to assist a person who may be experiencing an opioid-related drug overdose. Only a registered nurse or other designated and trained District employee shall be authorized to administer this medication and may do so only in accordance with a standing order or procedures approved by a physician licensed to practice medicine in the state of Texas.

The Superintendent shall develop administrative procedures addressing acquisition, maintenance, expiration, disposal, and availability of opioid antagonist medication in the District, as well as employee training and emergency notification requirements.

Everman ISD

All campuses have Narcan and trained staff.

Fort Worth ISD

FWISD has multiple emergency procedures in place to address substance abuse. The school district plans to roll out Naloxone availability to campuses next year along with training for Nurses and written guidance material for faculty and parents.

Godley ISD

Godley is a small district. There have been no on-campus cases of fentanyl abuse, and we are not aware of any off-campus situations.

There is currently no naloxone on campuses. Our nurses and health advisory council are discussing a protocol for this.

Grapevine-Colleyville ISD

Board policy addresses administration of opioid antagonist medication –

The District may acquire and store opioid antagonist medication, such as Naloxone, to assist a person who may be experiencing an opioid-related drug overdose. Only a registered nurse or other designated and trained district employee shall be authorized to administer this medication and may do so only in accordance with a standing order or procedures approved by a physician licensed to practice medicine in the state of Texas.

The Superintendent shall develop administrative procedures addressing acquisition, maintenance, expiration, disposal, and availability of opioid antagonist medication in the district, as well as employee training and emergency notification requirements.

Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD

Narcan is currently on all secondary campuses. We have trained elementary and secondary nurses and SROs. The product has been ordered for elementary and we are awaiting delivery. (We have received partial delivery)

Keller ISD

Keller ISD does have Narcan available on our middle and high school campuses and staff on each campus trained to administer it.

Kennedale ISD

KISD currently has Narcan doses available at all Secondary Campuses (high school and jr. high). The campus nurses and SRO’s are the staff that can administer the Narcan doses. KISD is working on obtaining further training for additional staff to be able to administer Narcan in the event of an emergency.

Lake Worth ISD

Lake Worth ISD has four SRO officers that carry Narcan on them. School nurses are at every campus that have standing orders and can give Narcan as well. The four SRO officers float between our six campuses in the district throughout the day.

The district has partnered with the JCDTF-Drug Demand Reduction Outreach to be one of the first schools in the State of Texas to offer their “Dead on Arrival” Curriculum to all of our secondary students. This curriculum deals with the deadly fentanyl crisis and its dangers that are going on globally.

We also partnered with Recovery Resource Counseling to offer counseling services to students and families that have a need.

Mansfield ISD

Mansfield ISD’s Health Services Department has Naloxone available on middle and high school campuses for nurses to administer to any person who may be experiencing an opioid-related drug overdose.

Northwest ISD

We stock Narcan at schools as an emergency measure (it was proposed by a student last year, and it was implemented after she presented her proposal to our school board). We do not allow illegal drugs in our schools, whether it be fentanyl or any other illegal drug.

White Settlement ISD

The school district policy states:

The District shall purchase and store opioid antagonist medication, such as Naloxone, to assist a person who may be experiencing an opioid-related drug overdose. Only a registered nurse or other designated and trained district employee shall be authorized to administer this medication and may do so only in accordance with a standing order or procedures approved by a physician licensed to practice medicine in the state of Texas.

The Superintendent shall develop administrative procedures addressing acquisition, maintenance, expiration, disposal, and availability of opioid antagonist medication in the District, as well as employee training and emergency notification requirements.

No response at the time of publication: Aledo ISD, Burleson ISD, Castleberry ISD and Eagle Mountain Saginaw ISD.