News-Graphic, Georgetown, Aug. 25, 2016
Hub: Schools will not stock anti-overdose drug
By Dan Adkins
Scott County's schools will not stock an anti-overdose drug despite the state's top education official's urging to local districts.
"The advice I'm getting from my experts is we're not going to do that," Scott County Superintendent Dr. Kevin Hub said.
"At this point, we're not planning on stocking those," Hub said.
He was referring to kits of naloxone, or Narcan, a drug that interrupts overdoses of heroin, oxycodone and other opiate narcotics.
"We know heroin is increasing in Kentucky" and presents an ongoing problem in Scott County, which is on Interstates 75 and 64, two highways recognized as pipelines for the narcotic, Hub said.
His remarks came after the News-Graphic asked about whether the district would follow a recommendation from state Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt.
Two weeks ago, Pruitt encouraged local school district officials to consider stocking the anti-OD drug in school nursing stations.
"Although we hope no student, staff or family member ever falls victim to drug abuse, we cannot ignore the potential that an overdose could occur at school," Pruitt said.
"This is an opportunity for schools to be prepared for that possibility and save a life," Pruitt added.
He noted Narcan is being made available free to high schools nationwide through an initiative by the Clinton Foundation and Adapt Pharma.
Participating schools must have staff who are trained in using the anti-OD treatment.
Pruitt also pointed out heroin has become prevalent in northern Kentucky, Louisville and Lexington, and that users include a growing number of young people who had abused expensive prescription painkillers.
More than 75 Kentucky school districts plan to send staff to a Sept. 14 meeting at the Lexington Embassy Suites hotel, where they will be trained in using Narcan. The training will be provided by the Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition at the Kentucky Public School Health Coordinators Summit.