SafeGuard Mississippi Brings Lifesaving Opioid Training to 26 Schools

The in-person training sessions in July focused on recognizing the signs of an opioid overdose and how to properly use naloxone, or Narcan, and fentanyl test strips. Educators and staff from schools in Lafayette, Alcorn and Lee counties participated, including those in Oxford, Saltillo, Guntown and Shannon.

“The SafeGuard Mississippi training provided to the Alcorn School District was excellent,” said Brandon Quinn, the district’s superintendent. “This training opened the eyes of many of our educators and gave them the knowledge and tools to help keep our students safe.”

Local community pharmacists played an active role in the sessions, serving as facilitators and resource experts. The work is continuing this fall in more school districts across the area.

Besides demonstrating naloxone administration techniques, pharmacists shared real-world experiences from the front lines of the opioid crisis and discussed how schools can collaborate with their communities to maintain access to overdose reversal medications. Their involvement ensured that participants received both clinical expertise and practical guidance for implementing opioid safety strategies in their own communities.

During the July trainings, pharmacists distributed 720 boxes of Narcan and 350 fentanyl test strips. Also, some 484 participants earned certificates of completion, qualifying them to lead future trainings.

“SafeGuard Mississippi is a powerful example of how education and community engagement can save lives,” said Donna Strum, dean of the UM School of Pharmacy. “By equipping individuals with the tools and knowledge to respond to opioid overdoses, we’re strengthening the health and resilience of communities across our state.”

SafeGuard Mississippi is focused on prevention and education in response to the opioid crisis affecting communities across the state. The program is funded through a federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and managed by the UM School of Pharmacy.

While the July trainings were primarily for school staff, teachers have now requested that the training also be provided to students.

Trainings in additional counties took place in August and are continuing in September as SafeGuard Mississippi continues working toward its goal of reaching thousands of Mississippians with lifesaving tools and information.

SafeGuard Mississippi is a health education and outreach program that provides training and resources to prevent opioid overdoses. Led by the Ole Miss pharmacy school and supported by a $3.23 million SAMHSA grant, the program works with schools, pharmacists and community leaders to increase awareness and access to naloxone and fentanyl test strips in rural areas.