Dartmouth Schools To Be Equipped With Narcan

Beginning this academic year, Dartmouth Public Schools will be outfitted with the overdose-reversing drug known as Narcan.

Dartmouth Superintendent Dr. Bonny Gifford tells WBSM News in light of the widespread nature of the opioid epidemic, having narcan as an accessible resource was just common sense.

"Obviously with the issues that are happening across the state we just want to be prepared," said Gifford "it's a preventitive measure that, God forbid, we never have to use, we have EpiPens or any other kind of tools and resources in our schools and we thought this would be the next step."

However, Dr. Gifford says the drug won't be available only for students and faculty but for any overdose victim on school grounds.

"Anybody's brother, anybody's father, anybody's sister, that unfortunately develops this problem, or this disease, and anything that we can do as a society, I think we'd be remiss not being able to support people as best as we can," said Gifford.

Dr. Gifford says that two kits of Narcan will be on hand at each of the district's six schools at all times.

Dartmouth joins New Bedford in keeping the drug on hand in case of emergency.