Narcan for students? Loudoun County schools consider new drug policy

Loudoun County schools are considering allowing students to carry Narcan, the antidote to overdoses.

The district made headlines last fall when eight students died of overdoses at Park View High School within three weeks.

This even led Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin to sign an executive order requiring schools to notify parents and students in the event of an overdose sooner than LCPS did.

Recently, at a school board meeting of the Committee on Student Services, a draft policy was brought up that would allow students to carry Narcan.

According to policy, only students age 16 and older are allowed to carry the overdose antidote at LCPS and only if they have been properly trained.

FOX 5 has contacted every LCPS board member and has not received a response.

A board member raised concerns about this policy during the meeting, citing the possibility of encouraging drug use if students know an antidote is nearby.

Natalie Allen, LCPS communications director, said in an email that the district was not ready to issue a statement because the board had not yet voted.

According to Allen, several doses of naloxone are available at each LCPS middle and high school, and several staff members at each school have been trained in its use.

All School Resource Officers of the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office and the Leesburg Police Department also carry it.

Allen said that overall they encourage their employees to get training and that they have held several training sessions throughout the year.

According to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, there were 22 nonfatal overdoses among teens last year and at least three this year.

Michelle Mege is a mother of an LCPS student and said she supports students' access to Narcan.

“For me, Narcan is a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, we have reached this point today because we are hardly able to [drugs] and in schools – if it saves just one life, I think it's worth it,” Mege said.

We asked some other districts to find out their policies.

Montgomery County Public Schools said they would encourage their students to carry the device with them – and teachers would have access to it in school health rooms.

In Fairfax County Public Schools, students and teachers can receive Narcan after completing special training.

Arlington changed its policy in 2023 to allow students to carry Narcan.

Students in Prince George's County Public Schools may also carry Narcan.

Teachers and all other staff who have received PGCPS training to administer Narcan may receive it, and all school nurses have been trained to administer Narcan and have it on hand.

The LCPS draft policy will be discussed again at the next meeting on September 19.