Life-Saving Narcan Distributed to 128 Pennsylvania High Schools

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Gov. Tom Wolf announced Thursday that the Department of Health has provided 128 public high schools in Pennsylvania with free Narcan, a life-saving nasal spray that reverses the effects of opioid overdose.

"I am grateful to Adapt Pharma, the Department of Health, and participating public schools for doing their part in fighting against the opioid epidemic," said Gov. Wolf. "By equipping trained professionals in schools with this drug, we are providing necessary resources in order to address this public health crisis."

The 128 public schools includes charter schools, intermediate units, and career and technical centers. For a full list of the schools that are approved for Narcan, visit this link.

Doses are still available for other interested school districts.

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"Having Narcan in a school could mean the difference between life and death for a student or anyone who overdoses on school property," said Secretary of Health Dr. Karen Murphy. "The school nurses in these districts have been trained on how to administer Narcan. I encourage other districts to work with their school nurses to get involved in this groundbreaking program."

The Department of Health partnered with Pennsylvania-based pharmaceutical company Adapt Pharma to increase statewide access to Narcan. Pennsylvania is the first state to implement what will serve as a model partnership program for other states.