By the end of Grade 10, secondary students in the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows school district will be taught how to deal with an overdose situation, including the administering of naloxone.
Superintendent of schools, Teresa Downs, outlined the initiative at the last school board meeting in a report called 'Opioid Education and Response Implementation Report' that was commissioned through a Board of Education motion in October.
As part of the initiative, students will be taught what opioids are, how they affect the body, and why fentanyl is particularly dangerous. They will also learn the telltale signs of an opioid overdose, including changes in breathing, consciousness level, and other observable indicators. And they will learn their options for responding.
A standard lesson plan co-created with educators will be delivered to students, ensuring that every student receives the same information at every school in the district.
“This initiative prioritizes prevention through education, emphasizing the risks of opioids while ensuring students know how to respond in an emergency," Downs told The News.
"Students are not required or expected to administer naloxone, but they will learn what their options are in a structured and supportive way, so they feel informed rather than intimidated,” added the superintendent of schools.
The report, prepared by school district staff, noted the goal of the training is to equip secondary students by Grade 10 with enough information on how to respond if they ever encounter a potential overdose situation – which could mean calling 911, administering naloxone, or seeking other immediate help.
Naloxone is a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid drug overdose. It can be injected into an arm, buttocks, or thigh muscle. There is also a nasal spray.
"Both forms are highly effective at reversing an opioid overdose when used correctly," read the report, noting it takes about three minutes to take effect and can counter the effects of drugs like: heroin, morphine, fentanyl, and codeine, and causes no lasting harm if there are no opioids in someone’s system. However, it may cause some temporary side effects.
School board chair Elaine Yamamoto noted that even after a declaration of a public health emergency almost nine years ago, overdose deaths linked to a poisoned drug supply continue to rise in the province.
“Our board is committed to providing students with an education that fully prepares them for the world into which they are graduating," said Yamamoto.
"As with other public health education initiatives, equipping students with knowledge about the risks of substance use and how to respond in an emergency will have lifelong benefits," she added.
Naloxone kits, which were already available in secondary schools, will now be available at every school in the district. In elementary schools, the kits will be stored securely in the main office, accessible only to staff in emergencies.
Implementation of the educational initiative is expected to begin after spring break. Families will be notified in advance of the sessions, and there will also be an opportunity to review the resources being used, explained Irena Pochop, spokesperson for the school district.
Education on substance use is already part of the kindergarten to Grade 12 curriculum, but this initiative builds on that foundation by expanding awareness and preparedness, she said.
"While students will learn about naloxone’s role in emergency response, the primary focus is on understanding the risks of opioids and how to seek help in an emergency," added Pochop.
