Reposted from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, MidContinental Region
Though the severity of the current opioid crisis is shocking, it is not surprising to find public librarians supporting the needs of their communities. The National Library of Medicine has compiled resources to assist librarians and other first responders to ensure that they understand the complex legal and medical issues this crisis presents:
- Searching the Disaster Lit® database for ‘opioid’ retrieves guidelines, training material, reports, fact sheets, conference proceedings, and congressional testimony.
- A report by the RWJF Network for Public Health Law describes overdose Good Samaritan laws in each state, as well as state laws about access to naloxone, the drug used to treat overdose victims.
- The Department of Justice developed a briefing guide for first responders about fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid analgesic. The high potency of opioids such as fentanyl has put responders at increased risk.
- MedlinePlus has a good overview of opioid abuse and addiction and links to many additional resources.
Discover other ways librarians respond to disasters and emergencies with the NLM Disaster Health bibliography, and stay tuned for more information later this summer about an NLM Disaster Health webinar on this topic.
From the DISASTR-OUTREACH-LIB email list
Submitted by Robin Taylor, MLIS
Contractor, ICF
Disaster Information Management Research Center