Narcan: I Never Thought My Son Would Actually Use it to Save a Friend
- Stephanie Simpson Krambrink
- Jul 8
- 2 min read
The call could have been worse. The friend could have died. Instead, my son administered Narcan and jumped into the ambulance with his friend. We had been educating our son on
Fentanyl since middle school. He began having Narcan with him when he started driving. This education was NOT because he has a history of drug use or because his friends do, but
because THINGS HAPPEN.
No tween or teen is immune to the impacts of accidental fentanyl exposure. We can all commit to learning and accepting the role Narcan can play in protecting our children and community members. We cannot be afraid of educating our children because we believe talking about drugs, partying, or "other" adult-like activities will increase the likelihood of "scary" behavior. The reality is that there is a reduction in exposure to fentanyl if moms talk about it with their sons.
Why are we so hesitant to discuss these complex topics with our sons?
How are we preparing them for the world we live in, if we don't accept the world we live in?
Talking about pills and fentanyl should start in middle school and continue through adulthood.
Middle school is a time when there is more openness for kids to bring candy and snacks to school. Middle schoolers should know that pills can be disguised as candy. It is not uncommon to see articles about what fentanyl is disguised as in the community at the time.
WHAT MIDDLE SCHOOL IS TOO YOUNG!!!! It isn't. It is easier to start these hard conversations when your children are young, trust you, and are a bit "excited" or "intrigued" to talk about "cool" topics. (insert research article about early education.)
High School is when our family started talking about Narcan. Most high schoolers get their license in their sophomore year. When this freedom becomes part of their lives, so do other activities such as exposure to parties and substances. When our son got his license, we got Narcan for his car, taught him how to use it, and explained the value of Narcan, as well as our family's values of loving our neighbor.
OPEN CONVERSATIONS
This open conversation was not about him; it is about the overall well-being of his friends, the greater community, and the overall value of all. Our family has always been open about our son carrying Narcan, and most are shocked that we have provided this resource. TODAY, we are grateful that we educated our son that Narcan can save a life, and don't be afraid to use it.
Knowing how to use Narcan will always be better than attending a funeral or watching a friend die.
Join our website today to get more critical information and tools for having hard conversations with your son.
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