JLCD

File: JLCD (pdf)
Adopted:  Date of manual adoption
Revised:  November 21, 1996, September 26, 2000, January 8, 2019, June 8, 2021

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ADMINISTERING MEDICATIONS TO STUDENTS

School personnel shall not administer prescription or nonprescription medication to students unless appropriate administration cannot reasonably be accomplished outside of school hours.

Medication may be administered to students by school personnel whom a registered nurse has trained and delegated the task of administering such medication. For purposes of this policy, the term “medication” includes both prescription medication and nonprescription medication, but does not include medical marijuana.

The administration of medical marijuana shall be in accordance with the Board’s policy on administration of medical marijuana to qualified students.

The term “nonprescription medication” includes but is not limited to over-the-counter medications, homeopathic and herbal medications, vitamins and nutritional supplements, and topical applications.

Medication may be administered to students only when the following requirements are met:

1. Medication shall be in the original properly labeled container. If it is a prescription medication, the student's name, name of the medication, dosage, how often it is to be administered, and name of the prescribing health care practitioner shall be printed on the container.
2. The school shall have received written permission from the student's parent/guardian to administer the medication to the student from the student's health care practitioner with prescriptive authority under Colorado law;
3. The parent/guardian shall be responsible for providing all medication to be administered to the student.
    

Self-administration of medication for asthma, allergies or anaphylaxis

A student with asthma, a food allergy, other severe allergies, or a related, life-threatening condition may possess and self-administer medication to treat the student's asthma, food or other allergy, anaphylaxis or related, life-threatening condition. Self-administration of such medication may occur during school hours, at school-sponsored activities, or while in transit to and from school or a school-sponsored activity. Student possession and self-administration of such medication shall be in accordance with the regulation accompanying this policy.

Authorization for a student to possess and self-administer medication to treat the student's asthma, food or other allergy, anaphylaxis or other related, life-threatening condition may be limited or revoked by the school principal after consultation with the school nurse and the student's parent/guardian if the student demonstrates an inability to responsibly possess and self-administer such medication.
 

Use of stock epinephrine auto-injectors in emergency situations

The district shall have a stock supply of epinephrine auto-injectors for use in emergency anaphylaxis events that occur on school grounds. Any administration of a stock epinephrine auto-injector to a student by a district employee shall be in accordance with applicable state law, including applicable State Board of Education rules.

The district's stock supply of epinephrine auto-injectors is not intended to replace student- specific orders or medication provided by the student's parent/guardian to treat the student's asthma, food or other allergy, anaphylaxis or related, life-threatening condition.

Student possession, use, distribution, sale or being under the influence of medication inconsistent with this policy shall be considered a violation of Board policy concerning drug and alcohol involvement by students and may subject the student to disciplinary consequences, including suspension and/or expulsion, in accordance with applicable Board policy.
 

Use of opiate antagonists in emergency situations

To the extent state funding and supplies are available, the district shall have a stock supply of opiate antagonists to assist a student who is at risk of experiencing an opiate-related drug overdose event. For purposes of this policy, an opiate antagonist means naloxone hydrochloride or any similarly acting drug that is not a controlled substance and that is approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of a drug overdose.

The stock supply of opiate antagonists may also be used to assist a district employee or any other person who is at risk of experiencing an opiate-related drug overdose event.

Administration of an opiate antagonist by a district employee to a student or any other person shall be in accordance with applicable state law.

 

LEGAL REFS:      C.R.S. 12-38-132 (delegation of nursing tasks)

C.R.S. 12-38-132.3 (school nurses - over-the-counter medication)

C.R.S. 22-1-119 (no liability for adverse drug reactions/side effects)

C.R.S. 22-1-119.1 (authorizing possession and administration of opiate
antagonists)

C.R.S. 22-1-119.3 (3)(c), (d) (no student possession or self-administration of medical marijuana, but school districts must permit the student's primary caregiver to administer medical marijuana to the student on school grounds, on a school bus or at a school-sponsored event)

C.R.S. 22-1-119.5 (Colorado Schoolchildren's Asthma, Food Allergy, and Anaphylaxis Health Management Act)

C.R.S. 22-2-135 (Colorado School Children's Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act)

C.R.S. 24-10-101 et seq. (Colorado Governmental Immunity Act)

1 CCR 301-68 (State Board of Education rules regarding student possession and administration of asthma, allergy and anaphylaxis management medications or other prescription medications)

6 CCR 1010-6, Rule 6.13 (requirements for health services in schools)

 

CROSS REFS:      JLCDA, Students with Food Allergies
                               JLCDB, Administration of Medical Marijuana to Qualified Students
                               JLCE, First Aid and Emergency Medical Care

 

End of File: JLCD