A partnership with Roosevelt High School helps us work toward reducing the number of opioid overdoses
Minnesota school districts are now required by law to have a supply of opioid overdose medication in school buildings. The new requirement comes as the number of deadly overdoses among teens in Minnesota is on the rise. Last year alone, overdose deaths among young Minnesotans rose by 49 percent.
But what happens when students are away from school? Healthcare providers and community organizations say more needs to be done to reach the age group with the third highest number of nonfatal emergency department visits for opioid-involved overdoses.
Recently, M Health Fairview led a naloxone training and kit-packing event for students at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis. A group of 20 students from Roosevelt’s Health Careers program learned how naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, can be used to reverse an opioid overdose and save lives outside of school, in their communities.
A major goal of the training event was to educate young people about opioids and encourage open and honest dialogue about substance use, addiction, and mental health.
After completing the training, students knew which signs to look out for to identify someone who has overdosed, and act by administering naloxone. They also learned where to get low or no-cost naloxone.
“These students now have the education and tools they need to be able to save a life,” said Ingrid Johansen, RN, director of community clinical care with M Health Fairview. “Students are here because they’re interested in careers in healthcare, but also because this work really speaks to them.”
After the educational portion of the event, students packed 500 naloxone kits with items provided by the Steve Rummler Hope Network (SRHN). Assembly line-style, students put the kit components together, including gloves, alcohol swabs, a breathing barrier, sterile syringes, and vials of Naloxone.
SHRN will distribute the completed kits statewide to 100+ registered naloxone access points sites across the state of Minnesota.
Students had the option to take a kit home that had the nasal spray form of naloxone, known as Narcan, thanks to a supply from the Minneapolis Health Department.
“We have an opioid problem in Minnesota and beyond, and what these students did today helps us work toward solving that problem,” said La’Anna Johnson, RN, a professional development specialist with M Health Fairview.
Event leaders from M Health Fairview say that this dialogue is essential for breaking down barriers, reducing stigma, and promoting understanding within the community.