New push to allow Florida schools to give overdose reversal drug to students

A new push would allow Florida schools to give an overdose reversal drugs to students.

Parents send their children school every day not knowing what they’ll encounter.

Protecting local students from drugs in school, specifically opioids, is a top concern for the community.
Action News Jax told you in October 2017 when President Trump declared the opioid crisis a national health emergency.

Florida say more than 1,500 deaths related to synthetic opioids in 2016, up from 200 in 2013, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

“It’s a scary thing right now, it really is," David Paradis said. "These kids are starting younger and younger these days.”

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A Florida lawmaker is pushing for the state’s public schools to have naxolone, a drug that treats opioid overdoses.

Action News Jax reporter Beth Rousseau spoke to state Sen. Jason Pizzo who filed the bill, Thursday.

Pizzo said it removed liability from trained school officials administering the drug.

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“As long as it’s like a doctor on school campus or a nurse that’s qualified to give them – not just a random teacher and say here give them this,” said Paradis.

We reached out to Clay, St.Johns and Duval County school districts, all said they had no cases of overdose deaths at school in 2017 or 2018.

A spokesperson for Duval responded saying it’s too early to provide input on the bill.

Lawmakers are set to take up the proposed bill when the session begins in March.

Cox Media Group