Governor

A 1st: Pennsylvania Public High Schools to Carry Heroin Antidote

Pennsylvania schools will be the first in the country to combat potentially deadly drug overdoses by carrying an antidote.

The state is the first to supply Narcan, which reverses a heroin overdose, free to all public high schools. Each school will get one carton of Narcan nasal spray.

"I am thrilled to announce my administration’s next step in the fight against the opioid epidemic," said Gov. Tom Wolf. "By equipping trained professionals in schools with this drug, we are providing another way to save Pennsylvanian lives. It is our responsibility to give these struggling individuals another chance at life."

Besides the antidote, schools will also have access to new educational materials and training.

Adapt Pharma and the Clinton Foundation offered the drug-overdose antidote.

"We understand the crucial role schools can play to change the course of the opioid overdose epidemic by working with students and families," said Adapt Pharma chairman and CEO Seamus Mulligan. "We want every high school in the country to be prepared for an opioid emergency by having access to a carton of Narcan nasal spray at no cost. We look forward to working with our partners to implement these initiatives, which build on the significant progress being made by legislators and community groups."

No word yet on when schools will get the Narcan doses.

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