01-05-2025
Free Narcan now available at three East Bay libraries
(KRON) — Naloxone, an opioid antagonist drug used to reverse fentanyl overdoses, is now available in some East Bay libraries. The drug, which is better known under the brand name, Narcan, is available for free at three Contra Costa County Library (CCCL) locations.
Narcan, which is used to quickly reverse opioid overdoses, can be found in self-service stands in the public areas of the Antioch, Pleasant Hill, and San Pablo libraries. Free doses of the drug are available during library open hours.
No registration, identification, or proof of insurance is required, according to library officials.
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Opioid overdose-related deaths, according to CCCL, have steadily climbed in the past decade, despite rates dipping in 2024. In recent years, many of the overdoses in Contra Costa County — and across the Bay Area — have involved fentanyl.
In Contra Costa County specifically, drug overdoses were the leading cause of death for adults aged 25-54 between 2020 and 2022.
'Saving lives from overdose is our collective responsibility,' said District 1 Supervisor John M. Gioia. 'Human life is sacred, and second chances are miracles. Providing naloxone in public spaces like libraries is a vital step toward health equity and dismantling barriers to care.'
'Having naloxone freely available in our libraries puts a powerful, life-saving tool into the hands of the public,' said District IV Supervisor Ken Carlson. 'This initiative helps ensure that anyone, at any moment, can step in and save a life, making our communities safer for everyone.'
'This program is about compassion and action. By making naloxone free and easy to access, we're empowering everyday people to help those in crisis and offering hope at a moment when it's needed most,' said District V Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston.
The naloxone is available at the libraries through a partnership between Bay Area Community Resources and the CCCL.
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