Reducing stigma toward opioid use in North Bend
Providing the space and resources for a community to find both accurate and timely information is core to public library work. One way that this can be accomplished includes engaging with subject matter experts and partners to offer programming and opportunities on a range of topics. Drea Douglas, the Learning Coordinator at the North Bend Public Library in Oregon, led the effort to organize and offer a panel discussion for the community on opioid use disorder. When it comes to opioid misuse, opioid use disorder, and addiction, the stigma surrounding the topics can impact the willingness of people to seek out information. Libraries can combat this stigma by including opioid-related information and resources into their health programming, so patrons are able to ask questions and seek answers in safe settings.
Nestled between Pony Slough and Coos Bay, North Bend is a rural community where timber and tourism are the primary drivers in the economy. While it’s one of the largest towns in the area, Drea shared that she often notices the lack of availability when it comes to specialists in concentrated fields, including addiction and opioid use disorder. This observation prompted the North Bend Library to host a discussion panel on opioid use disorder. “Libraries are…spaces where people come to look for answers. The thing is we don’t always have all of the answers,” Drea shared. Which is why she looked to subject matter experts for help. At the outset of planning the program, Drea clearly defined that the focus was to address preventing addiction, breaking the cycle of addiction, and keeping compassion at the center of the discussion. This foundation guided the selection of panelists, which included medical doctors, an addiction specialist, and pain management experts, and helped to steer the discussion questions.
The library promoted the event via social media, press releases, flyers, and word of mouth. The panelists introduced themselves and their work, brought resources to share, (e.g. videos, handouts, and visual examples), and answered questions from the audience. One example given by a panelist that resonated with many of the attendees was how mental health and substance use disorders “look” different than other illnesses, making them difficult to recognize. The panelist went into detail about how a chronically ill patient’s life may be affected by their condition in the following order: physical well-being, work/career, finances, social/ interpersonal, and lastly, self-image. However, when it comes to opioid use disorder, it’s usually the reverse—that the individual’s self-image is affected first, causing them to put up a front and try to hide everything that follows. Drea shared that it was clear that some members of the audience were there out of concern for a loved one, and emphasized that a key program success was the opportunity for the audience to ask questions of the panelists.
Program description of the library's panel discussion:
Oregon has the second highest opioid prescription misuse in the nation. With such staggering statistics, no person is immune to being affected by opioid misuse. Even more concerning is that most often a person’s first encounter with this narcotic is through a legitimate prescription. Understanding and identifying how easy it is to develop an addiction or be living with an addict, is the first step to recovery. Opioid addiction is not “someone else’s problem,” and we cannot turn a blind eye to this epidemic. During the panel, our speakers will focus on methods to reduce the probability of developing an opioid dependence and will share strategies to aid in the recovery from addiction. They will also hold a Q&A following their discussion.
In addition to hosting the panel discussion, the North Bend Public Library also offers quarterly training in collaboration with the HIV Alliance, on how to use naloxone on someone experiencing an overdose. This multi-pronged approach connects the community to lifesaving information and resources.
You can learn more by checking out WebJunction’s Opioid Crisis Support Kit for Public Libraries. The kit is freely available and includes information about the opioid crisis, how to work with community partners, and ideas for programs and resources. Explore this new tool and learn about the difference you can make to support the community your library serves in leading a healthy and productive life.