SAN ANTONIO — Several months after Texas legislation mandated Narcan to be maintained at all middle and high schools, Edgewood ISD is continuing to educate the community about the dangers of fentanyl.
On Tuesday, Edgewood ISD police officers hosted a community meeting to bring awareness to the dangers of fentanyl. The focus was on informing parents about the opioid epidemic which has claimed the lives of thousands of Texans over the years.
“It does take a village to raise our kids. Not only do we target out kids but we target their families because education is the key," said Edgewood ISD Police Chief Jesse Quiroga.
For at least six years, Edgewood ISD police officers have been trained on how to administer naloxone (brand name Narcan), a life-saving medication to reverse the detrimental effects of an opioid overdose, including fentanyl.
According to state health data, more than 1,600 Texans died of fentanyl-related overdoses in 2021, an 89% increase from 2020.
Nursing staff are now trained and equipped to use Narcan after Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 629 into law last year.
“So I feel you can never have too many safety nets for our kids,” Quiroga said.
While Narcan hasn’t had to be used on students, Quiroga said the medication has been administered to community members.
“Our officers will be in the area. They’ve had to respond and administer prior to EMS getting there,” Quiroga said.
Multiple school districts have also been proactive before the law was passed when it comes to maintaining Narcan on campus.
North East ISD in March 2023 began implementing Narcan at every campus. Northside ISD has also had Narcan accessible on campuses for a while. UT Health San Antonio distributes Narcan to the district for free. District police officers, athletic training staff and nurses are among those trained to administer the medication.
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