A view of naloxone, or Narcan, nasal spray on display at a naloxone demonstration at the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Sept. 8, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Students in Colorado would be expressly allowed to carry drug overdose reversal medication on campus and at school activities under a bill working its way through the Legislature, a policy that advocates say is a reasonable application of harm reduction thinking.
House Bill 24-1003 would allow students to carry and administer naloxone, often known by its popular brand name Narcan, and to carry fentanyl testing strips with them at school and at events like sporting events and school dances. Though students are already technically allowed to carry those items, the bill would standardize the policy across the state and clarify it for school districts.
“It empowers students, but it also empowers adults. It doesn’t put the full burden on them. We’ve energized a bigger group of individuals who are there to help students when they really critically need that help,” said Democratic Rep. Mary Young of Greeley, who is sponsoring the legislation.