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Phoenix to give out free opioid overdose-reversal medication Narcan at public libraries
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this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2023
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I am all for this being a public service but why is this up to the library? I understand it is usually a convenient, local place that people can easily get to, but I don't think most librarians are equipped to deal with someone who needs help in this kind of way. Much like guns shouldn't be a "hazard of the job" for school teachers, I don't think librarians should be responsible for this kind of public safety.
We should invest in community centers with resources for such things. Mental health professionals, trained social workers, public servants specifically trained to help those who might have stumbled along the way.
I think it's just because American cities often don't have community centers other than libraries. Libraries already host music concerts, society meetings, naturalization events, English classes, and other things unrelated to books; it's not such a stretch to see them providing this sort of thing as a public service too.
I totally agree, but we don't ask other public services to do that. Not do I think we should, but why not make it available at City Hall. If you as a community want to help these people, and have agreed to provide public services to a specific problem, why not lean into it. A single social worker in an office at City Hall could probably handle this better than people who preserve our public knowledge.
I understand the likely hesitation of people in need of something like narcan going to a place like city hall for fear of getting arrested, but if you're providing public funds and services to help someone why would you arrest them for accessing this resource just because a law enforcement officer happened to see them on their way to get assistance?
Good points. I see what you mean about going the whole hog and helping people at a community center dedicated for just that, helping people.
My initial response was that a social worker's skills are not necessary if the job is just to hand out anti-overdose medication, but then I realized that they could be useful for providing more help for these people, not just preventative drugs (which is great! but no one beat an addiction using more drugs).
The myriad of free services provided by a library is why they hang out at libraries. Not that it doesn't happen but I doubt the homeless are checking out books to fill their spare time.
Public bathroom, wifi, escape from the heat or cold, nice people, business resources, etc are all benefits of the public library. All that stuff can be done in a regular office building or community center and no need to burden the library with more work.
Anyone can administer narcan nasal spray
I agree and understand, but sometimes people who are in need of this service might be less than stable. Again, is someone like a librarian the best public servant to help in this situation?
Presumably the best public servant is the one that’s closest and has narcan. We don’t have time to wait for the comptroller to get down there.
It doesn’t even seem like librarians will be administering them? They’re just giving them away
I agree with you in theory as well @wintermule_oregon@lemm.ee said, ideally this wouldn't be the case but this is just better than nothing.
And we should not let perfect get in the way of someone getting possibly life saving resources.