The opioid epidemic was declared a national public health emergency in 2017,  and the situation worsened due to the 2020 COVID pandemic. Provisional data from the CDC National Health Statistics Center show that from September 2020 to September 2023, opioid overdose deaths in the US increased by 19%, from 88,879 to 105,303. As community anchor institutions, public libraries are leveraging their assets in response to this crisis. 

To aid staff at public libraries in determining how their library can address opioid use disorder in their community, WebJunction has developed the “Opioid Crisis Support Kit for Public Libraries.” This resource will help strengthen libraries—and, more broadly, the communities they serve—as the nation continues to struggle with the opioid crisis.

The Support Kit was tested by staff in 15 public libraries across the US and enhanced by their feedback. The content includes pragmatic strategies, tools, and other resources to help libraries—including those in rural areas—as they determine their specific communities' needs and define the roles and activities their library is most suited to carry out. The kit will help libraries assess their staff strengths and capacity, identify key partners with whom to collaborate or coordinate, and plan and implement programming and services that support local needs.