The narcotic scourge is hitting high schools in Tucson, so southern Arizona’s biggest school district is taking care of business.

Tucson Unified School District in the past month started putting Narcan in the health offices of its high schools.

District officials investigated the state program that allows high schools to have Narcan. The only individuals authorized and allowed to direct the Narcan are the nurses and health assistants.

What truly kicked it into high gear was an occurrence at one of the high schools this year, in which an student overdosed on opioids.

The school didn’t have anything in the office at the time that could help students in an emergency. The school called 911 and emergency crews administered the Narcan to the student. The students survived, yet it was a reminder for health officials that time is critical in this type of situation and additional measures needed to be taken.

In the next few weeks, school safety officers with the district will also be carrying Narcan. TUSD has made an effort in speaking with parents and students about the perils of narcotics.

TUSD isn’t the only school district carrying Narcan. Narcan is also available Amphitheater Public Schools health offices. The only person that can administer is the registered nurse after a thorough assessment.

Foothills School District has released the following statement:

Arizona law requires that school districts establish procedures for the emergency administration of naloxone or another opioid antagonist. In the Catalina Foothills School District, our first action would be to call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance since our local first responders carry an antagonist. We would only accept storage in our school’s health office and administer naloxone if it was provided by a person who lawfully provided the medication, and that provider and the school have created a health care plan for a student who may require naloxone as emergency intervention.