MADISON COUNTY, Ky.  – Many Kentucky school systems have signed up to learn more about a program to help battle drug overdoses.

Public schools across the state may soon provide the anti-overdose drug Naloxone to its students and staff. On Thursday, the Kentucky Department of Education announced every school district in the state is eligible for free supplies of the drug thanks to a grant from the Clinton Foundation and Adapt Pharma.

According to the Office of Drug Control Policy, there were more than 1,200 fatal overdoses last year in Kentucky alone.

As of Monday morning, the Kentucky Department of Education had more than 100 different school districts signed up for the program. Rebecca Blessing, the communications director for the department, says that not all who registered actually want to receive the Naloxone. Some school districts are just seeking more information about the program. Madison County is one of the school districts that opted to participate.

“Most of our communities are dealing with some type of drug issue, and that does eventually creep into our school buildings, whether we want to admit that or not,” said Erin Stewart, community education director for Madison County Schools.

“We feel like any precautionary step or measure that we can take for the safety of our students and staff, it’s probably a good idea to go ahead and do that,” Steward said. “We don’t anticipate ever having to use it, but it’s there if the situation ever does arise.”

Free training for school officials on the use of Naloxone will be held September 14th in Lexington.

“It’s not an endorsement. We’re not trying to give anyone the easy way out. It’s just that if there is a medication available to save somebody, then we always feel that that is the right thing to do.”