West Baton Rouge Parish Library has installed free Narcan distribution boxes at both branches, providing anonymous access to life-saving overdose reversal medication funded by pharmaceutical lawsuit settlements.

Library Director Tamie O'Berry Martin announced the initiative Thursday, which came about after seeing a similar program at West Feliciana Library. The boxes are provided through Hope Resuscitated, a nonprofit founded by recent high school graduate Leila Ramos.

Behind the program: Ramos, who lost a loved one to overdose, founded the organization and funds the distribution boxes herself. The Narcan comes through Capital Area Health Services from a $7.4 billion pharmaceutical industry verdict requiring harm reduction initiatives.

"There is no cost to the library. There is no cost to the taxpayers," Martin emphasized. "This is funded by the pharmaceutical companies."

The scope of the crisis: Louisiana recorded over 2,000 overdose deaths in 2022, according to CDC statistics - the most recent data available. Martin noted that even when communities don't witness these tragedies directly, they're occurring throughout the state.

Removing barriers: The boxes address two major obstacles to Narcan access - cost and stigma. A single dose typically costs over $60, and many people feel shame seeking the medication at pharmacies.

"There's some shame associated with going to a pharmacy or whatever access point to ask for Narcan because people look down on addicts and people who love addicts," Martin said. "This box helps remove that stigma because it allows you to access it anonymously."

Safe for everyone: Martin stressed that Narcan poses no danger to people who haven't overdosed. "If you see someone who has passed out and you suspect it's from an overdose, you can confidently use the Narcan," she explained. The medication simply blocks opioid attachment to dopamine receptors and won't harm children or adults who haven't ingested opioids.

Personal connections: The crisis touches WBR families directly. Martin shared family experiences with addiction, while Summers, as a former volunteer firefighter, once discovered an overdose victim who had collapsed in the Port Allen Auto parking lot with his companion in the car. "Due to stopping to investigate, we were able to save that man's life," Summers said, illustrating how immediate intervention can mean the difference between life and death.

Installation details: The main library location received its box Thursday with 12 doses of Narcan, plus two additional cases for refills. The South Branch installation was planned for the same day, weather permitting.

Library's mission: Martin framed the initiative within the library's broader community role: "Every resource that we can possibly provide for West Baton Rouge, we have an obligation to provide. Not just books, not just DVDs, not just entertainment, not just meeting rooms."

Hope amid crisis: The organization's name - Hope Resuscitated - reflects its mission. "Hope can be resuscitated," Martin said. "There are programs to deal with addiction... but if a person dies, there's no hope. There's no chance for them to get clean, to get sober, to change their life."

Growing problem: Experts note that fentanyl contamination in other drugs has increased overdose risks, with dealers pressing fake pills and lacing marijuana. Additionally, people in recovery face heightened overdose risk during relapse because their tolerance has decreased.

Resources available:

• Hope Resuscitated: www.hope-resuscitated.org
• CDC Naloxone Information: https://www.cdc.gov/.../reversing.../about-naloxone.html
• Narcotics Anonymous support na.org
• Nar-Anon (family support): www.nar-anon.org

The boxes are accessible 24 hours daily at both WBR Library locations, requiring no identification or payment.

For more information, contact West Baton Rouge Parish Library.