Libraries and the Opioid Crisis

Information from NJ Department of Human Services

The NJ Department of Human Services has created a one-page document, Naloxone at Libraries, which provides needed guidance and requested information to help assuage concerns and promote registration and naloxone ordering through the DHS Naloxone DIRECT Portal.

Libraries are encouraged to reach out to Naloxone@dhs.nj.gov with any questions or concerns. Additionally, once libraries are prepared to have naloxone onsite, they can order directly through the DHS Naloxone DIRECT Portal.

What Are Opioids?

Naloxone (NARCAN)

NARCAN® Nasal Spray 4mg Instructions for Use on YouTube.

Training Opportunities

The State of New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services maintains a Community Naloxone Training Schedule.

Providers for free community training or to schedule training for library staff include:

Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School’s Division of Addiction Psychiatry offers regular training and free naloxone nasal spray kits.

To register, please call or email:
Queenie Reda, MSW, LSW
732-235-4341

WebJunction hosted a webinar titled “Community Health Challenges: Training, Language and Programming for Libraries” on December 17, 2019.  In the past, WebJunction has offered other webinars which are available as recordings:

OCLC Research

Public Libraries Respond to the Opioid Crisis in Collaboration with Their Communities: An Introduction By Michele Coleman and Lynn Silipigni Connaway
The nation is experiencing an opioid epidemic. As communities across the country feel the epidemic’s impact, public health and human service organizations are implementing responses that include healthcare, education, law enforcement and the judicial system, emergency services, drug and addiction counseling, and community services. Public libraries around the country are choosing to be part of this response.

With funding from a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, OCLC and the Public Library Association will identify, synthesize, and share knowledge and resources that will help public libraries and their community partners develop effective strategies and community-driven coalitions that work together to address the opioid epidemic in America. This project is called, “Public Libraries Respond to the Opioid Crisis with Their Communities.” This article is the first of two about the project and it focuses on the issues and preliminary themes surfacing in interviews with library staff and the partners. A second article will focus on the data analysis and overall findings

In November 2019, OCLC released publications addressing how libraries are responding to the opioid crisis.  The summary report and case studies are available through WebJunction.

WebJunction: Social Library, Community Conversations and the Opioid Crisis

Facebook: Libraries and the Opioid Crisis

New Jersey Opioid Statistics

 

Addiction Services

If you have questions or suggestions for information to include in this guide, email Andrea Levandowski.