It takes guts to make real change. And Durango School District 9-R is leading the way, thanks to determined students who pressed the district to allow them to administer Narcan at school.
It’s the leadership, too, on 9-R’s Board of Education and with Superintendent Karen Cheser that we appreciate. Cheser will take on drafting a new policy, allowing students on campuses to carry and use Narcan, a naloxone nasal spray that reverses opioid overdoses.
As reported in The Durango Herald, the school board’s 4-to-1 vote on Tuesday allows the district to assume legal risk. The decision is a win-win.
Legal risk could have been an easy way out for the district. Hard to argue with legal risk. Translation: A lawsuit could be financially devastating for 9-R, among other things. Saying “yes” is brave, especially because there’s no case study to protect 9-R from legal attacks later on. Also, there’s no precedent.
All around, we see courage.
Like seasoned courtroom lawyers, students brought their A game. After researching opioid antagonists laws and Colorado’s Third Party Naloxone Law, they presented solid arguments as to why their request was reasonable and needed. We imagine, their tenacity and sharp minds swayed board members. How could they not?
And it made sense to lean into that Third Party Naloxone Law, which extends some criminal immunity to non-health care providers who act in good faith to administer naloxone to a person believed to be overdosing on an opiate-related drug. This is significant legal backup. It’s also helpful that the Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday that Narcan can now be sold over the counter.
Still, before students could be successful, the school board and district staff members had to be open to hearing them.
“It’s not just lip service that we value student voice,” Cheser said. “They are going to be solving our world’s problems, and we’re glad they’re getting a head start with adults who support them. This learning experience shows all the steps involved in agile thinking and problem-solving in a respectful way. As a district, we’re inspired by these students, and we’re committed to change as the world changes.”
And during a time across the country, when winning a school board seat can mean bringing one’s agenda, Narcan was clearly not on any school board member’s personal agenda.
This was purely and naturally student-led.
The school board took the untraveled route. And parents and community members are having conversations about opioids in the Southwest.
Board president Kristin Smith’s vote was the lone one against the motion, saying she is not a fan of taking legal risks. We understand her reluctance. But we support the board’s decision.
Administering Narcan is just the beginning. The district wasted no time in making it clear in a draft policy that more responsibility follows with serious reporting protocols.
Reminder for students and parents: Narcan is already available at all schools and there has not been an overdose at any 9-R campus.
Durango students can bask in their win, but they aren’t quite finished. They’re still trying to change the Colorado Revised Statute that covers only trained employees or agents to administer Narcan. We’ll follow their progress.
And talk about trailblazing. Durango School District is lining up to be the first in the state with this Narcan policy change. Many public health officials say Narcan should be thought of as an EpiPen for severe allergies or an asthma inhaler. By allowing students to administer Narcan, Durango 9-R is helping normalize its use and place in a first-aid kit.
Hats off to all involved in moving 9-R – and Durango – closer toward reducing the nation’s alarmingly high drug fatality rates. We see your courage.
