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Opioid Antagonist Training Resources

Opioid Antagonist Resources

In order to comply with the requirements of Wis. Stat. § 118.29 (2) and (6) any bus operator, school employee, or volunteer administering medications to students must be authorized in writing by an administrator and must receive DPI approved training. The training is a requirement to be immune from civil liability. The DPI approves the administration of opioid antagonists via nasal routes or an auto-injector. DPI does not approve the use of a vial and syringe by school personnel, bus operators, and volunteers to administer naloxone via intramuscular injection. Training on the use of an opioid antagonist includes both a knowledge portion and a skill demonstration.

Several state and national organizations or agencies have developed training materials. The following resources have been approved by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for use in training school personnel, bus operators, and volunteers in the emergency use of an opioid antagonist.

DPI recognizes that not every training resource includes instruction on when to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or use an automated external defibrillator (AED) in an overdose situation. For school personnel, bus operators, and volunteers who have no prior training or certification in responding to an unconscious victim, they may use the algorithm of Recognize, Respond, Reverse, and Refer as outlined in the National Association of School Nurses’ (NASN) training modules. Emphasis should be placed on learning the signs of a suspected drug overdose and the proper administration of either the intranasal or intramuscular autoinjector form of Naloxone. School personnel, bus operators, and volunteers who may administer an opioid antagonist to a person who is suspected of an opioid-related overdose should also be taught what to do when the person responds (aftercare) or what to do if the person does not respond to the Naloxone. DPI recognizes that school staff may additionally be trained or certified in CPR and AED use. It is suggested school personnel, bus operators, and volunteers perform at their highest level of training.

School districts are not required to use these specific training resources. School districts may submit their training materials to the State School Nurse Consultant for Department of Public Instruction approval at: louise.wilson@dpi.wi.gov. At a minimum approved courses should train staff to:

  • Identify a possible overdose and how to respond to it.
  • Identify the antidote for an opioid overdose.
  • Understand what naloxone is, how it works, and how to give it to someone who had overdosed on opioids.
  • Understand how to care for the person after administering naloxone.

APPROVED TRAINING MATERIALS

Wisconsin Department of Health Services Naloxone Training - This training is not DPI approved training on how to give naloxone by a syringe. School personnel need additional instruction on how to administer medications by injection via a syringe. DPI does not approve the use of a vial and syringe by school personnel, bus operators, and volunteers to administer naloxone via intramuscular injection.  

American Heart Association Opioid Education for Nonclinical Staff and Lay Responders - This training is not DPI approved training on how to give naloxone by a syringe. School personnel need additional instruction on how to administer medications by injection via a syringe. DPI does not approve the use of a vial and syringe by school personnel, bus operators, and volunteers to administer naloxone via intramuscular injection. Staff should be instructed to place person in recovery positions.

American Red Cross First Aid for Opioid Overdoses Online Course - There is a cost associated with this online module.

Check out the Opioid Antagonist/Naloxone Training Programs Approved for Use (2/15/24) for other approved trainings. The document will be updated as new courses or trainings are approved.

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS

Opioid Antagonist Administration Quiz

Opioid Antagonist Administration Answer Key

Opioid Antagonist Administration Skills Sheet

NASN Naloxone Education Toolkit (revised 2023)

Flowsheet Narcan

Flowsheet Evzio

Opioid-Associated Emergency for Lay Responders Algorithm - American Heart Association

Opioid Antagonist Medication Administration Guidance (FAQ)

See the Opioid and Fentanyl section of the Resources and Publications webpage for more information.