Northern Michigan University officials are out front — appropriately, we believe — in action they took last week in the never-ending battle against opioid overdoses.

Some 72 kits of Naloxone, a nasal spray that is used to reverse the effects of opioids, were handed out, courtesy of a grant from the federal government the state of Michigan received. The kits were distributed through the NMU Health Center Pharmacy.

Overall, the state received funds sufficient to purchase 50,000 units, said NMU pharmacist Jan Nolan.

“That money has been funneled down to the states and the states decided this was a small way of giving some education out and just part of treating the opiate epidemic right now,” Nolan said for a Mining Journal story on the issue. “Northern wanted to get involved because our students are usually front line, on top of education and anything health-wise and they’re usually very eager to get involved. They’re usually not bystanders where they’re not going to help each other.”

The spray is an easy-to-use and safe method of helping someone who may be overdosing without any risk to the bystander, Nolan said. If administered to an unconscious individual and they are not suffering from an overdose, the spray will not have any effect and cause no harm, the Journal coverage noted.

Naloxone kits can be obtained with a prescription from your doctor. Kits cost $135, but most insurances cover the cost, Nolan added.

It is regrettable that NMU, tasked with educating our children, has to take this kind of step. But that’s the world we live in. NMU should be lauded for recognizing that fact.