No naloxone in Waterloo region public schools for now, trustees decide

Naloxone won't be going into Waterloo region's public schools just yet.

School board trustees have decided to defer any decision on putting naloxone kits used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose into schools until September.

• TDSB approves plan to stock naloxone kits in high schools

"Community partners here have told us that while they would support us if we wanted to deploy kits in schools, it isn't absolutely necessary," Nick Manning, chief communication officer for the Waterloo Region District School Board toldCBCNews Tuesday.

"Other first responders in the region are able to achieve rapid response times and this region's school population hasn't been observed as a high risk group,"

Earlier this month, the Toronto District School Board approved a plan to stock naloxone in high schools.

Ryan Bird, spokesperson for the TDSB, told CBC Toronto his board wanted to have the kits on hand "just in case" they are needed.

John Schewchuk, chief managing officer for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, said there is currently a regional strategy involving multiple local stakeholders discussing the opioid issue.

"Any decisions we make around naloxone in schools will be made in consultation with that process," he said Tuesday.