Journal of community health

1573-36104722022AprJournal of community healthJ Community HealthSubstance Use and Overdose in Public Libraries: Results from a Five-State Survey in the US.344350344-35010.1007/s10900-021-01048-2In the U.S., overdoses have become a health crisis in both public and private places. We describe the impact of the overdose crisis in public libraries across five U.S. states, and the front-line response of public library workers. We conducted a cross-sectional survey, inviting one worker to respond at each public library in five randomly selected states (CO, CT, FL, MI, and VA), querying participants regarding substance use and overdose in their communities and institutions, and their preparedness to respond. We describe substance use and overdose patterns, as well as correlates of naloxone uptake, in public libraries. Participating library staff (N = 356) reported witnessing alcohol use (45%) and injection drug use (14%) in their libraries in the previous month. Across states surveyed, 12% of respondents reported at least one on-site overdose in the prior year, ranging from a low of 10% in MI to a high of 17% in FL. There was wide variation across states in naloxone uptake at libraries, ranging from 0% of represented libraries in FL to 33% in CO. Prior on-site overdose was associated with higher odds of naloxone uptake by the library (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1-5.7). Although 24% of respondents had attended a training regarding substance use in the prior year, over 90% of respondents wanted to receive additional training on the topic. Public health professionals should partner with public libraries to expand and strengthen substance use outreach and overdose prevention efforts.© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.Feuerstein-SimonRachelR0000-0002-5424-2502Center for Public Health Initiatives, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3620 Hamilton Walk, Anatomy and Chemistry Building, Room 148, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. rachel.feuerstein-simon@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.LowensteinMargaretMDepartment of General Internal Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.DupuisRoxanneRHarvard University, Cambridge, USA.DolanAbbyADepartment of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.MartiXochitl LunaXLSan Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, USA.HarveyAlexandraACenter for Public Health Initiatives, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3620 Hamilton Walk, Anatomy and Chemistry Building, Room 148, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.AliHebaHCenter for Public Health Initiatives, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3620 Hamilton Walk, Anatomy and Chemistry Building, Room 148, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.MeiselZachary FZFDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA.GrandeDavid TDTDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA.LenstraNoahNDepartment of Library and Information Science School of Education, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), Greensboro, USA.CannuscioCarolyn CCCDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA.Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.engJournal Article20220112