Grand Canyon Times

More than 4,000 Narcan kits have been distributed to schools in Arizona through the efforts of the STOP-IT taskforce. Tom Horne stated, “Today, more than 4,000 lifesaving Narcan kits are in Arizona schools because of the efforts of the STOP-IT taskforce, with more on the way. The results have been excellent and represent my ongoing commitment to the health and safety of school-aged children.”

The distribution includes nearly 4,400 kits sent to 144 education agencies in Arizona, with an additional 210 kits being prepared for delivery. A further 2,000 kits are designated for school staff attending training sessions hosted by the Arizona Department of Education School Safety Unit or regional consortia.

Dr. Holly Geyer, co-chair of STOP-IT and a specialist at Mayo Clinic, highlighted several achievements: “Thanks to the incredible collaboration between STOP-IT members, this initiative has been able to complete the nation’s first comprehensive survey evaluating opioid overdose prevention/management practices completed in a state school system.” She noted that their work has included creating a supply chain for naloxone in schools and developing resources and policies for overdose management.

STOP-IT has also focused on creating educational tools and reporting mechanisms related to fentanyl awareness and overdose prevention. The group has emphasized addressing the rise in fentanyl use as a critical issue since over half of all fentanyl trafficked into the U.S. enters through Arizona.

Horne expressed concern about youth overdoses: “Within the past three years, overdoses rose to the third leading cause of death in youth under age 18.” He noted that Maricopa County ranks second nationally for youth overdose deaths.

The success of STOP-IT is attributed to over 60 individuals from various sectors including education, healthcare, law enforcement, and state agencies. These organizations include the Arizona Department of Education, Arizona School Resource Officers Association, and others committed to improving safety measures in schools.