GA expands Narcan in schools as opioid crisis persists. What to know.

Georgia public schools will soon have access to opioid overdose reversal kits as the state continues to grapple with rising overdose deaths.

Under a new statewide initiative, more than 2,300 Georgia public schools will have naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, available by the end of the 2025-26 academic year.

The effort is a partnership between the Georgia Department of Education and the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, and funded through settlement dollars administered by the Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust.

The initiative comes as Bibb County has seen a steady rise in opioid-related overdose deaths from 2019 to 2023, according to Georgia Department of Public Health data. The county recorded 11 overdose deaths in 2019, with the number increasing to 41 deaths in 2023.

According to a 2024 report by OASIS, an online data portal providing access to standardized health data in Georgia, Bibb County also had an emergency room visit rate of 215.8 per 100,000 people for drug overdose incidents, compared with 148.0 statewide.

Naloxone is a medication that temporarily stops the effects of opioids and can help a person resume breathing after an opioid overdose.

Ashley Newberry, schoolhouse health coordinator for the Bibb County School District and Atrium Health, said the district has not yet received kits through the new initiative, but naloxone is already available in schools.

“All schools in Bibb County School District have had Narcan. Middle and high schools received Narcan in 2022, and elementary schools received Narcan in 2024,” Newberry said in an emailed response. “The kits will be a great tool in the event of a suspected overdose.”

District officials did not respond to questions about whether any reversal kits have been used since 2022.

Commissioner Kevin Tanner of the state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, said opioid overdose deaths remain a serious problem in the state.

“Between 2010 and 2022, we had a 302% increase in overdose deaths in Georgia from opioids,” he said. “We’ve had overdose deaths in schools, both students and employees. Oftentimes, these deaths occur because people don’t know they’re taking an opioid.”

Cases could include a student taking what they believe is headache medication from a friend, only to find it is laced with fentanyl, Tanner said.

Non-fatal overdoses are also increasing in Georgia, according to the state department of health.

The new partnership is in support of Senate Bill 395, also known as Wesley’s Law, which Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law in 2024. The law authorizes schools staff to carry medications that block the effects of opioids in a secure location.

Tanner said kits have already been distributed to half of Georgia’s public schools, and the remaining schools will receive them in April 2026.

“This offer is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the state to invest wisely and look at ways to prevent people from becoming addicted to an opioid to start with, and also getting people into treatment and getting people in keeping them in recovery,” Tanner told The Telegraph.

Trained staff in Bibb County schools

The school kits will include two doses of naloxone, personal protective equipment like masks and gloves, and a QR code that school officials can scan to notify the state when refills are needed, Tanner said.

“Naloxone works extremely well if it’s administered quickly, so we want to make sure that school staff has it available if they need it,” Tanner said. “Our hope is that it’ll never be needed in a school, but if it is, it’ll be there.”

In Bibb County, school nurses handle suspected overdoses during a school day. Outside of school hours, trained staff respond to any suspected incidents. In all cases, emergency medical services are contacted, Newberry said. Every school nurse in the district receives Narcan training during annual emergency alert training events.

When asked whether Narcan will be available during after-school activities, athletic events or on school buses, Newberry said availability will depend on the number of kits received and decisions by the district’s safety committee.

Through the statewide partnership, the state department of education and DBHDD also will share training resources and best practices with school staff to improve overdose response readiness.

“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to protecting Georgia’s students and ensuring every school is prepared to respond in an emergency,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said in a news release. “By taking this proactive step, we are helping safeguard the health and safety of every student, educator, and community member across our state.”

Programs for at-risk youth

Outside the partnership, Tanner said additional prevention and recovery resources are available for youth exposed to opioids.

Georgia offers several programs for at-risk youth, including DBHDD-supported recovery clubhouses and the APEX school-based mental health program. APEX operates in more than 800 Georgia schools and provides therapeutic support for students with mental health and addiction needs, Tanner said.

The River Edge Behavioral Health Center serves Bibb County Schools through the APEX program.

Individuals can also call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for 24-hour mental health and crisis support. Call 988 to speak with a trained listener or visit 988lifeline.org for more information.