In an ongoing partnership to prevent opioid overdoses, the Baltimore County Department of Health (BCDH) and Baltimore County Public Library are partnering to offer naloxone receptacles in all 19 library branches.

Naloxone is a safe medication that can rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, including heroin and fentanyl. Baltimore County Public Library managers and staff received naloxone training—including recognizing the signs of an overdose and understanding the importance of calling emergency services—in July.

From the county press release:

“Ensuring that every resident can access lifesaving medication is a priority for Baltimore County, and we’re proud to continue working with our partners to prevent overdoses in every community,” said Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier. “Thanks to the efforts of the public library system and the Department of Health, we are more prepared than ever to overcome the challenges of the opioid epidemic, connect our neighbors with the help they need, and save lives.”

The naloxone receptacles are currently mounted/installed and stocked in all branches. Baltimore County Public Library branch locations can be found HERE.

Funding for the receptacles was made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act and the Maryland Office of Overdose Response. The initial supply of naloxone will be provided through the CDC Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) LOCAL cooperative agreement awarded to Baltimore County, and the ongoing naloxone supply will be maintained through the Maryland Department of Health, Overdose Response Program. For more details, see the full release.