Durango’s 9R school district has proceeded cautiously on whether to permit students to carry an opioid-reversal drug called Narcan. The district has expressed concerns about possible adverse situations if Narcan is used improperly. Medical experts told us there aren’t any overdose scenarios where Narcan shouldn’t be used.
The school board vote comes after nearly a year of activism by a small group of high school students in Durango. School district administrators envision a policy that promotes training and limits legal exposure for schools.
At Durango’s 9R School District, administrators have taken a careful and measured approach to the question of whether to allow students to carry Narcan on campus. One charter high school that operates outside the district has given students a little more leeway on the issue.
Students launched a harm-reduction campaign in Durango to push for permission to carry Narcan on campus and expressed concern about the slow response of administrators. Superintendent Karen Cheser told us that allowing students to carry Narcan is a complex issue, but there has been progress.