Security officials at Slippery Rock University and at Butler County Community College have added naloxone, an antidote for narcotic overdoses, to the arsenal of their medical equipment.

Naloxone, also referred to by the brand name Narcan, can reverse the effects of opioids like heroin and morphine even in the case of an overdose. When injected into the bloodstream, including the use of a nasal spray, the drug works within two minutes; when given in the muscle, it works in five minutes.

In September 2014, Gov. Tom Wolf authorized law enforcement, emergency medical services and similar organizations to carry and use naloxone as needed. This was extended to school nurses and security officers in September 2015.

BC3 has Narcan kits at the main campus in Butler Township, according to Pat Massaro, executive director of campus police and security.

The four kits at BC3 were given through a grant from the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, which required the security officers to pass a test after taking an online course before they could be equipped.

Each kit has two treatments, which are to be given nasally, Massaro said. Under most circumstances, one dose does the job, but if necessary, two doses can be taken safely, he said.

The college has never had an incident involving overdoses, but having the kits on campus will be a good preventive measure, Massaro said.

Next month, Slippery Rock University will implement a policy for Narcan kit use, said Robb King, associate executive director for communications and public affairs.

Each SRU police officer’s car will have a kit, with additional kits at the police station and at student health center, King said.

The university expects 10 kits to arrive soon, King said. All SRU officers have been certified in the use of naloxone.

Grove City College declined to comment on the matter.

A check of several school districts in Butler County revealed that none of them have these kits.

However, the Seneca Valley School District employs two school resource officers who are members of the Jackson Township Police Department, said Linda Andreassi, director of communications for the district.

They have these kits because all officers in the Jackson department carry them and are certified to administer naloxone, which was issued by the county, Andreassi said.

They patrol the secondary campus including the intermediate high school and senior high school during school hours.