Opioid-related deaths are now the leading cause of death among school-aged children in Wisconsin. State lawmakers want Narcan in schools before another life is lost. A new bill introduced this week would reimburse schools for stocking the opioid antagonist, giving staff the means to reverse an overdose before emergency services arrive.

Senator Jeff Smith and Representative Jodi Emerson are behind the push. If passed, their bill would require all public, private, and charter schools in Wisconsin to keep a usable supply of opioid antagonists on site at all times.

Why Narcan in Schools Cannot Wait

The numbers are stark. Nationally, 217 people die every single day from opioid overdoses. That is more than 22 children every week. Most Wisconsin schools still have no way to respond when an overdose happens on their grounds.

Senator Smith was clear about what the bill can and cannot do.

“First of all, this bill cannot prevent overdose. It can prevent death from overdose, and I think that’s a really important distinction,” he said.

Narcan does not stop drug use. It buys time. It keeps a young person alive long enough for help to arrive. Right now, most schools do not have that option.

A Father Who Turned Grief Into Action

George Moore III knows what it means to be without that option. He lost his son to an overdose nine years ago. His son had struggled with addiction throughout high school and college.

“We started it just because we did not want anyone who went through our family experience to have to go through what we did,” Moore said.

Since then, Moore has run a recovery foundation and become one of the loudest voices for getting opioid antagonists into schools. He has worked directly with legislators and offered Narcan kits to schools across Wisconsin at no cost.

Narcan in Schools: A Bill That Has Been Here Before

This legislation is not new. A similar bill was introduced in the last legislative session by Senator Jesse James. It stalled in the Republican caucus and never made it to a vote.

“We worked with Jesse on it and it did not get out of the Republican caucus to the floor,” Moore said.

Supporters believe a bipartisan push this time around will carry more weight. Youth opioid deaths have continued to climb. The case for acting is harder to ignore than it was before.

The Cost of Keeping Narcan in Every School

Wisconsin has 1,267 middle and high schools, public and private combined. Equipping all of them with Narcan would cost less than $300,000 in total. That works out to roughly $237 per school.

“It is very inexpensive to have a Narcan overdose resource kit in every school in the state,” Moore said. “There is grant money in there. We provide them for free.”

His foundation has already offered to supply kits through the Department of Justice at no charge to schools. Twenty-eight other states have already put similar laws in place. Wisconsin is behind, not leading.

“This is a bipartisan issue,” Moore said. “It is about time we step up and pass drug addiction legislation that saves kids.”

Opioid Antagonist Access Must Go Beyond School Hours

Accessibility is the key detail. An opioid antagonist locked away during a weekend game or an after-school event is useless in a crisis.

Senator Smith addressed this point directly. “If it is accessible at all times, that can ensure a fast response during an overdose emergency, meaning after hours as well,” he said.

The bill, as written, would require schools to keep Narcan reachable beyond regular school hours. Supporters say that provision is what makes the legislation practical rather than symbolic.

The Case for Passing This Now

Moore’s message is short and direct. “Let us do what is right for Wisconsinites and get the bill passed,” he said.

Narcan in schools will not end the opioid crisis. It will not stop every young person from making a dangerous choice. What it does is give schools a fighting chance when the worst happens. At less than $300,000 for the entire state, that chance is well within reach.

The question is whether lawmakers will take it.

Source: wsaw