Chicago City Wire

Patrons soon will be able to check out more than books and videos from some branches of the Chicago Public Libraries system. 

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that it is expanding its partnership with Chicago Public Libraries (CPL) to provide Narcan kits and train library staff on how to use them.

“CDPH and CPL are expanding Narcan access to an additional 24 libraries this month,” the health department tweeted. “So far, we have distributed over 600 Narcan kits from 27 libraries and trained over 280 library staff on overdose prevention. Expect Narcan at your Chicago library soon! 

The two city agencies announced in January that they would provide Narcan kits to public libraries across the city, beginning with 14 branches and expanding to 27, according to a release. Narcan is an FDA-approved, nasal spray form of naloxone. It is used to treat opiod overdoses. Patrons can take as many kits as they need and do not have to provide any information in order to access them. 

“Librarians provide critical resources to some of our city’s most vulnerable residents on a daily basis and we are honored to partner with them to increase access to this life-saving medication in response to the ongoing overdose epidemic,”  Matt Richards, CDPH deputy commissioner of behavioral health, said in the release. “We hope that this collaboration will inform future partnerships between CDPH and CPL as we consider new and innovative ways to integrate mental health and recovery resources into Chicago’s libraries.” 

Chicago has reported 1,303 opioid-related deaths in the city so far in 2022, representing an increase of 52% from 2019 and the highest number ever recorded in Chicago's history, the release said. Many of those overdose deaths, 86%, involved fentanyl. 

“We are proud to partner with CDPH to improve the lives of Chicagoans and strengthen the communities we serve. As we continue to thoughtfully examine the ways our libraries support the neighborhoods we are in, this partnership to offer Narcan at library branches is a natural fit,” Chicago Public Library Deputy Commissioner Maggie Clemons said in the release. “We have libraries located in every neighborhood, safe and trusted community anchors that serve all Chicagoans and help each neighborhood discover its potential. We look forward to an ongoing relationship with CDPH to enhance additional health resources in our libraries.”

The rationale behind the program is that more than three-quarters of opiod overdose deaths in the state occur before an ambulance arrives on the scene, Dr. Wilnise Jasmin, the CDPH medical director of behavioral health, said.

“People from all walks of life may misuse drugs, and potent synthetic opioids such as fentanyl are increasingly being added to all substances,” Jasmin said. “The presence of these powerful opioids increases one’s risk of experiencing an overdose. It is often bystanders who can intervene quickly and by having Narcan widely available in public spaces, we can prevent persons from dying from an opioid overdose and buy more time for emergency medical personnel to arrive. The goal of harm reduction is to keep people alive and provide them with a chance to enter recovery.”