How Will Colorado Schools Tackle the Rising Opioid Epidemic

In the face of rising drug overdose deaths among young people, Colorado school districts are shifting their approach from a 100% drug prevention education to stockpiling a lifesaving medication to reverse fatal opioid overdoses. This move comes after tragic incidents, such as the death of a student at Mitchell High School in December 2021, where the lack of available medication proved fatal.

According to the state Department of Public Health and Environment, in 2022, 34 children between the ages of 10 and 18 died of fentanyl overdoses in Colorado.

This alarming number has led to an increase in school districts joining the state’s program to obtain naloxone, a medication that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose. However, not all schools are on board with the idea, with some facing stigma and reluctance to address the issue of drug addiction.

The push for naloxone in schools has gained momentum since the passage of a 2019 state law allowing schools to access the medication for free or at a reduced cost. Despite this, only about a third of Colorado districts had enrolled in the state’s giveaway program at the start of this school year. In the dozen counties with the highest drug overdose death rates, many school districts had not signed up, potentially due to the stigma surrounding drug addiction and the fear of being labeled a "bad school" with a drug problem.

This hesitation to stock naloxone in schools is concerning to health experts, who argue that it is a necessary step in combatting the opioid epidemic. The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recommends that schools, including elementary schools, keep naloxone on hand as fatal opioid overdoses rise, particularly from the potent drug fentanyl. And 33 states have laws allowing schools or school employees to carry and administer naloxone.

In Colorado, 65 school districts are currently enrolled in the state program, with another 16 set to join. However, the remaining 97 school districts either do not stock naloxone on their campuses or obtain it from other sources. The state’s commission on naloxone has allocated $19.7 million in federal aid to the Naloxone Bulk Purchase Fund, but this is only a small step in addressing the larger issue of drug addiction.

The high cost of naloxone, with prices averaging $45 per two-dose package, has also sparked concerns about access for those who need it most. While the medication is now available over the counter nationally, it may still be out of reach for many families struggling with addiction.

In some school districts, students themselves have taken matters into their own hands, advocating for the right to carry and administer naloxone on school grounds without fear of punishment. In Durango, students lobbied for this right and were eventually granted permission, with one student now involved in drafting legislation to allow students across the state to carry and distribute Narcan on school grounds.

Despite the progress being made, there is still a long way to go in addressing the opioid crisis in Colorado and beyond.