Fentanyl, a synthetic opiate, is now the leading cause of death for adults 18 to 45 in this country. When it’s used–either by smoking it, injecting, it, or in pill form–even a small amount causes respiratory failure and the person simply stops breathing. First responders and other concerned people who know how to use the Narcan nasal spray, can bring an overdosing person back to life, but not always.
After alcohol, fentanyl is the most problematic drug in the history of the US, killing 275 people every day, in our large and small cities. Libraries, library leaders, and staff have had to deal with the impact of this drug as patrons have come in under the influence, or near death, or seek to use it in our library stacks and restrooms. This session will provide an overview of the situationm provide education to library leaders and staff, and give some potential solutions.
About the Speaker
DR. STEVE ALBRECHT. Since 2000, Dr. Steve Albrecht has trained thousands of library employees in 28+ states, live and online, in service, safety, security, and supervision. His programs are fast, entertaining, and provide tools that can be put to use immediately in the library workspace with all types of patrons. In 2015, the ALA published his book, Library Security: Better Communication, Safer Facilities. He is currently writing the sequel, The Safe Library: Keeping Users, Staff, and Collections Secure, for Rowman & Littlefield. Steve holds a doctoral degree in Business Administration (D.B.A.), an M.A. in Security Management, a B.A. in English, and a B.S. in Psychology. He is board-certified in HR, security management, employee coaching, and threat assessment. He has written 24 books on business, security, and leadership topics. He lives with six dogs, two cats, and three chickens. (Not all in the same room, of course.)
