Fentanyl Is Finding Its Way Into The Hands Of Middle Schoolers. Experts Say Narcan In Classrooms Can Help Prevent Deaths.

CBS Los Angeles

December 27, 2023

As a high school student, UCLA senior Maddie Ward knew fellow students who overdosed on fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid.

At the time, she didn't know what the drug was, but the tragic incidents inspired her to learn about how she could respond to overdoses. While at college, an organization called End Overdose came to her campus, giving out naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses. Naloxone is best known by the brand name Narcan, which is available over the counter. Ward continued working with End Overdose, eventually becoming a co-founder of one of their first campus groups.

"Naloxone had always been so expensive and kind of confusing on how to get and where it was available ... Realizing it could be made so easy was really a great feeling," said Ward, whose campus organization now provides naloxone, fentanyl testing strips and educational resources to other students. "Being able to provide these resources and knowing that people are now able to be educated and potentially prevent someone else from dying is a really great feeling."

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