BLACKWOOD, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Every school in Camden County is getting a Narcan box installed to help save the life of a student or staff member who might suffer from an opioid overdose.
The Camden County Chiefs of Police Association said it would give every public and parochial school the Naloxbox, a metal container with four doses of naloxone, used to save lives in the case of such an overdose. Some schools like Highland Regional High School already have Narcan boxes installed.
County officials say this is a no-risk, high reward situation because the $20,000 cost is minimal and the benefits are obvious. Camden County Health Officer and Public Health Coordinator Paschal Nwako said it’s no different than other life-saving devices.
“If you go into schools, libraries, public places, you see defibrillators that will shock your heart when it’s down for you to come back to life, so it’s the same thing that we’re doing today,” said Nwako.
Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins says not everyone who overdoses is a drug user, which is why having these in schools is important because sometimes kids get their hands on dangerous substances.
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“There is overdose. That happens,” said Harkins. “But we’ve had accidental exposures, and wouldn’t we want to have that poison control?”
Camden County Prosecutor Grace MacAulay said drug dealers don’t care about anything but money, and she highlighted a few instances of kids buying pills with fatal results.
“Remember this: You have no idea where the drugs you buy are really coming from. You may think you know, but you don’t,” said MacAulay.
“You may know the guy who sold you the drugs, but I guarantee that guy has no clue who cut, bagged or pressed the drugs.”
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Lou Cappelli, director of the Camden County Board of Commissioners, said they want these easily accessible everywhere. But he believes it’s not enough to just install them, as proper training is a must.
“Unless you’re trained to use them, they’re not worth anything. You really need to know how to use Narcan,” Capelli said. “Putting the boxes out there is one thing, but people really have to know how to use them.”
He says school nurses are already trained, and staff members and students will get the opportunity to learn soon. Narcan training is being scheduled within schools during November.
Other school districts around the country are putting Narcan in schools, including Denver and Los Angeles.