Schools can directly impact a student's readiness to learn by having the tools to administer medication in the school setting. During school and school-sponsored activities, students may require medication for any of the following reasons: 

• Chronic Conditions: Conditions lasting one year or more. Conditions such as asthma or diabetes can affect a student’s health during the school day affecting their ability to concentrate or participate in class activities. 
• Acute Conditions: Temporary medication, such as an antibiotic for an infection, may be necessary during the day. 
• Emergency Situations: Conditions that might require immediate medication, such as a rescue inhaler for asthma, epinephrine for food allergy, glucagon for a diabetic emergency or naloxone for an overdose. 

• Required components of written prescribed medication requests (orders);  
• Prescriptions must arrive at school in their original container; 
• Where medications should be stored; and  
• Who is permitted to administer prescription medications. 

Over-the-counter medications are not included in Ohio law regarding prescription drug distribution; however, schools and districts can choose to administer over-the-counter medications to enable students to stay in class and reduce the burden on working parents.  

If a school or district decides to administer over-the-counter medications, the school or district should have a written policy that addresses the administration of over-the-counter medications. This policy should include whether parents need to be notified prior to administration. These policies may vary depending on the school or district and the age and grade of the student.   

• Naloxone: Schools may incorporate naloxone into their emergency preparedness and response plan to avoid deaths related to an opioid overdose. Ohio law allows governmental agencies to have naloxone on the premises for use in emergency situations without a prescriber protocol. 

• The Ohio Pharmacy Board provides Frequently Asked Questions about naloxone. 
• Project DAWN is a network of opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution programs coordinated by the Ohio Department of Health. Use the List of Project DAWN Locations to find a Project DAWN site.  

• The NaloxoneOhio website provides a list of free naloxone mail order programs.  

Ohio law provides schools and districts with the opportunity to support students with food allergies, diabetes and asthma by procuring epinephrine, glucagon and inhalers. Schools or districts procuring these medications must have a prescriber issued protocol. For further information on each of these medications and Ohio law see the webpages linked below: 

• Epinephrine: The Supporting Students with Food Allergies webpage provides details on Ohio law, epinephrine, food allergy policies, free or reduced cost epinephrine and school procurement. 
• Gluocagn: The Supporting Students with Diabetes webpage includes more information on Ohio law, glucagon, staff training and school procurement.  

• Inhalers: The Supporting Students with Asthma webpage includes details on Inhaler use, Ohio law and school procurement. 

The Ohio Department of Health provides detailed train-the-trainer curriculums for school nurses to assist them in training staff on medication administration and use. These include: 

• Medication Administration Training for School Nurses; 
• Asthma Inhalers in Ohio Schools: A Train-the-Trainer for School Nurses; and 

• Epinephrine Autoinjectors in Ohio Schools: A Train-the-Trainer for School Nurses.