The North Carolina Overdose Response Strategy (ORS) team, in collaboration with community leaders, worked to introduce naloxone into the Wake County School System—the largest in North Carolina, serving approximately 160,000 students across 208 schools—to inspire other school districts to follow suit.

After extensive discussions to secure administrative approval, the school administration agreed to place naloxone in all schools, including elementary, middle and high schools. The Wake County School Board approved the plan, ensuring naloxone would be available district wide. As of 2024, 103 schools have trained staff and are equipped with naloxone, with the remaining 105 schools scheduled to complete training and receive naloxone by February 2025. The NC ORS team partnered with the mayor, an influential advocate, to train and supply naloxone to two local high schools in Apex. Upon learning that the decision to implement naloxone rested with the Wake County School Board rather than individual schools, the mayor engaged school board members and persistently advocated for the initiative.

Throughout the process, the NC ORS team served as subject matter experts, providing evidence on the benefits of naloxone in schools and addressing questions and concerns from stakeholders. They maintained ongoing communication with the mayor, who played a key role in keeping the initiative on the school board’s agenda.

This collaborative effort highlights the impact of partnerships between public health experts and community leaders in advancing overdose prevention and response initiatives within educational settings.