Kern Libraries’ naloxone program still going strong
If the past three months have shown anything, it’s that there’s been something long overdue at our libraries, and it isn’t books. It’s Narcan.
“We encourage everyone to come and grab some,” said Stevi Travis, who’s worked as a librarian on and off since 2007. “Because you never know what you’re going to run into on the streets.”
Since October, Beale Memorial Library and its 22 branches have stocked and distributed free naloxone kits to the public. Librarians wholly agree it was the right move. Parents, Travis said, are still a little apprehensive.
“Some think for some reason it would be encouraging (kids) to use substances,” Travis said. “But it’s still going to happen, whether they grab Narcan or not. But having it on hand can save a life for someone who maybe didn’t know their life was at risk.”
Shalyn Pineda, the county library’s regional supervisor, wasn’t too sure either, at least at first. In September, she met with officials from Kern’s Behavioral Health and Recovery Services to discuss whether to store the nasal spray en masse at the library.
Then, a teen, who looked no older than 17, Pineda
said, strolled up to the front entrance outside Beale Memorial Library, and collapsed.
“He overdosed in front of the library,” Pineda said. “Right as we were in conversations to get this started.”
Luckily, an ambulance arrived within minutes, and the teen was taken to the hospital. He was back at the library four hours later, as if nothing had happened.
“I honestly thought I was seeing things,” Pineda said. “Because when he left in the ambulance, I thought he was dead.”
Pineda acknowledged the incident opened her eyes to how prevalent drug use is in the community. The library
agreed to the program, and by the end of December, county libraries distributed 410 naloxone kits.
“The program was so popular, we nearly ran out,” Pineda said.
Staff decided, with county approval, to apply to the state’s Naloxone Distribution Project to claim their own supply. They were approved a couple of weeks later, and within days thereafter, Kern Library staff received a pallet of nearly 2,000 packs, free of charge.
The state has since 2018 given out 2.1 million naloxone kits to businesses and public facilities, and with those have reversed more than 135,000 overdoses.