The opioid crisis continues to rage unabated in our communities and even worsened in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. Libraries have a critical opportunity to support the information needs of patrons dealing with and impacted by substance misuse. Related programming and services are deeply connected to addressing health equity, and they help libraries to link community members to critical information that can improve their lives and the lives of loved ones. The stigma of substance misuse plays a particularly challenging role in providing supportive services and information, but it can be overcome through educational opportunities. Through a new online support kit from WebJunction, library staff have access to free resources to walk through initiating or expanding opioid-related programming and services. This discussion will provide details about the kit, how to use it and how it is being used by libraries.
Learning Objectives:
Recognize the impact and importance of libraries responding to the opioid crisis, and the myriad approaches that can be pursued.
Examine the impact of stigma around substance misuse on the ability to provide information and programming on the opioid crisis.
Awareness of how to use the free opioid response support kit to initiate or expand opioid-related programming in their library.
