Adoption Date: 10/25/2022

History: 5/9/23 (updated), 8/22/23 (reviewed), 5/14/24 (reviewed)

The Iowa City Community School District seeks to provide a safe environment for students, staff, and visitors who are at risk of potentially life-threatening opioid overdose.  Therefore, it is the policy of the district to annually obtain a prescription for an opioid antagonist from a licensed healthcare professional, in the name of the school district, for administration by a school nurse or personnel trained and authorized to administer to a student or individual who may be experiencing an acute opioid overdose. 

Opioid overdose occurs when the amount of opioids in the body is so great the individual becomes unresponsive to stimuli and breathing becomes inadequate. Lack of oxygen affects vital organs, including the heart and brain, leading to unconsciousness, coma, and eventually death. Naloxone is indicated for the reversal of opioid overdose in the presence of respiratory depression or unresponsiveness.

The Iowa City Community School District shall provide and maintain an opioid antagonist on-site in each school facility. Each school will have 2 doses of Naloxone in stock in their building.

To treat a case of suspected opioid overdose in a school setting, any trained staff member may administer an opioid antagonist during an emergency to any individual suspected of having an opioid-related drug overdose, whether or not there is a previous history of opioid abuse.

As provided by law, the district, board, authorized personnel or school nurse, and the prescriber shall not be liable for any injury arising from the provision, administration, failure to administer, or assistance in the administration of an opioid antagonist provided they acted reasonably and in good faith.

Any employee that is expected to provide emergency care to an individual will successfully complete the training by the Health Services Manager or school nurse.

The Superintendent, Health Services Manager, or designee will be responsible for the procurement of Naloxone.

Policy References:

Legal Reference:

Iowa Code §§ 135.185; 190; 279.8. 
281 I.A.C. 14.3. 
655 I.A.C 6.2(2)

Cross Reference:

507.2	Administration of Medication to Students
507.2E1	Authorization - Asthma, Airway Constricting or Respiratory Distress Medication Self-Administration Consent Form
507.2E2	Parental Authorization and Release Form for the Administration of Medication or Special Health Services to Students
507.2E3	Parental Authorization and Release Form for Independent Self Carry and Administration of Prescribed Medication or Independent Delivery of Health Services by the Student
507.2E4	Parental Authorization and Release Form for the Administration of Voluntary School Stock of Over-the-Counter Medication to Students