Department of Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman and Department of Education Acting Commissioner Kevin Dehmer recently announced that all New Jersey school districts can now obtain naloxone at no cost through Human Service’s Naloxone DIRECT program.
The announcement coincided with first lady Tammy Murphy’s visit to Bayside High School in Virginia to participate in a bipartisan discussion on fentanyl awareness with Suzanne Youngkin, the first lady of Virginia. During the visit, the first ladies participated in an opioid overdose and naloxone education course and attended roundtable discussions with students, staff and parents.
“Every community in our state has felt the impact of the opioid epidemic. That is why we have prioritized a whole-of-government approach to put lifesaving tools and resources in reach for all New Jerseyans. From harm reduction to education initiatives, we are taking action to put an end to this public health crisis so that we can create a healthier New Jersey for generations to come,” said Tammy Murphy. “We know that preparation is key and that having naloxone readily available can mean the difference between life and death. If providing our schools with this safe, fast-acting overdose reversal medication saves just one life, it will have been worth it. I thank Commissioner Adelman and Acting Commissioner Dehmer for their leadership on this important issue.”
“Addiction doesn’t discriminate, and the heartbreaking reality is overdoses can happen in any setting. By supplying naloxone to schools, we are giving a second chance to those suffering from addiction who visit, work, or learn in a New Jersey school,” Adelman said. “We thank the Department of Education for their partnership in this important initiative.”
“The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and visitors are our highest priorities,” said Kathy Ehling, assistant commissioner of educational services for the New Jersey Department of Education. “By providing naloxone to schools across New Jersey, we are equipping our school communities with a life-saving tool.”
In order to obtain naloxone, school districts must place orders through their respective county office of education. To do so, school districts will submit a simple form with their request for naloxone. Naloxone will be ordered by the case, and each case contains 12 nasal sprays, or 24 total doses. Each county office will then submit an order for naloxone kits for all the districts within their county through the Naloxone DIRECT portal. The naloxone cases are then delivered to the county offices, which then distribute the orders to school districts. If a school district has a question about ordering naloxone kits or would like to place an order, they should contact their County Office of Education.
In August 2018, Gov. Phil Murphy enacted the requirement that each district board of education, board of trustees of a charter school, and chief school administrator of a nonpublic school serving any of the grades nine through 12, must develop and adopt policies and procedures to maintain and administer an opioid antidote to any student, school personnel, or other person believed to be experiencing an opioid overdose during regular school hours or during on-site school-sponsored events. Students will not have direct access to naloxone. Certified school nurses have the primary responsibility for the emergency administration of naloxone. In the event a nurse is not present, school employees designated and trained by the school district will administer the naloxone. The New Jersey Department of Education previously released guidance in 2019 to provide additional information on who has access to naloxone, which can be found here.
First launched in 2022, the Naloxone DIRECT program works to provide first responder agencies, mobile outreach providers, opioid treatment programs, harm reduction programs and other eligible agencies the opportunity to easily request direct shipments of naloxone online, anytime they need it, at no charge. Since its launch, Naloxone DIRECT has distributed approximately 285,240 two dose kits.
This work builds upon previous efforts by the Murphy administration to expand the reach of naloxone and other harm reduction supplies. Since 2018, Human Services has distributed about 518,156 two-dose naloxone kits throughout the state through free giveaways to the public at pharmacies and through distributions to law enforcement, emergency medical services, Harm Reduction Centers, and opioid treatment providers. Naloxone is available from the 28 authorized Harm Reduction Centers open across New Jersey. Visit stopoverdoses.nj.gov for the nearly 700 participating pharmacies where anyone ages 14 years or older can anonymously access free naloxone kits.
“As always, we continue to urge residents struggling with substance use disorder needing addiction assistance to call the State’s addiction treatment helpline, 1-844-ReachNJ, a 24-hour-a-day, 7 day-a-week addictions help line where people facing addiction or their friends and family can get immediate assistance and support from live, New Jersey-based, trained addiction counselors, regardless of their insurance status,” Adelman said. “We are here to help along the journey to recovery. Treatment works, so please don’t hesitate to call.”