In a historic step for public safety, every public library in New York State Senate District 5 will now be equipped with wall-mounted naloxone rescue kits—marking the first time an entire Senate District in New York has ensured universal library access to this life-saving medication. The announcement was made on Thursday at the East Meadow Public Library by Senator Steve Rhoads, who was joined by library directors, library trustees, first responders, drug prevention advocates, and community health partners.

“This is more than legislation—it’s action,” said Senator Rhoads. “We’re turning policy into protection and words into real, local impact. Lives will be saved, families will be spared heartbreak, and communities will grow stronger because of this effort. In Nassau County, we don’t wait for tragedy to strike—we prepare, we protect, and we save lives.”

The initiative builds on the bipartisan success of legislation last year and brings together libraries, the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), and Project COPE in a coordinated effort to prevent overdose deaths. Each participating library will now serve as a vital access point for naloxone, providing immediate tools for intervention in the event of an overdose emergency.

Participating libraries include the Island Trees Public Library, Hicksville Public Library, Bellmore Memorial Library, East Meadow Public Library, North Merrick Public Library, Wantagh Public Library, Seaford Public Library, Levittown Public Library, Bethpage Public Library, North Bellmore Public Library, Merrick Library, and the Plainview–Old Bethpage Public Library.

Libraries in Nassau County receive more than 6.5 million visits every year, host over 125 programs daily, and welcomed more than 775,000 program attendees last year alone. “Libraries are more than book repositories—they’re community centers, classrooms, senior hubs, youth spaces, workforce training sites, and now, lifesaving access points,” said Rhoads.

The need for such access is urgent. According to the CDC, overdose deaths in New York State have reached over 22,000 since 2020. Each statistic represents a life that could have been saved with timely access to naloxone. Senator Rhoads, who has served as a volunteer firefighter for 33 years, underscored the importance of immediate response: “When every second counts, proximity saves lives. Having naloxone readily available in a public place can be the difference between tragedy and survival. These naloxone kits aren’t just hanging on a wall — they’re standing guard over millions of our neighbors, our children, our seniors, and our families.”

Frank McKenna, Director of the Seaford Public Library, said, “Libraries are in the business of basically enriching lives, but sometimes we need to help save lives. We thank Senator Rhoads for providing these kits and we look forward to always working with him in increasing our libraries and making them better all the time.” 

Jessica Sorbello, Director of Overdose Prevention at OASAS, said, “This is a dream come true within OASAS we hoped to see and the speed at which this has happened is incredible. The library is truly the greatest place I can imagine rolling out something like this because we know that libraries are a safe haven for our communities.” 

Chief Ryan Seerattan of the Wantagh-Levittown Volunteer Ambulance Corps said, “Narcan is one of the most valuable medications we have in our toolkit… it’s not something that should be limited just to first responders. It has so much potential to have a widespread impact on the community. The more people that have access to this, the more lives that can be saved.”

Ex-Chief James Kane of the East Meadow Fire Department said, “In medical emergencies…time is never on our side but having something like this available to us now, is a game changer. Having Senator Rhoads step up and do this and getting support from all the communities, is absolutely wonderful.” 

Steve Chassman, Executive Director of the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD), said, “This is another inception on how we are going to turn the corner on what is one of the most deadly public health crisis for Long Island and the United States of America. The fact that we are putting Narcan boxes in our libraries really does work to stamp out the stigma around this disease. We all know someone that is struggling with a substance or opioid use disorder; having these boxes will definitely save lives.” 

The initiative comes as communities across the nation mark the start of Red Ribbon Week, a time dedicated to drug-free living and substance abuse prevention. Senator Rhoads urged his colleagues across New York to follow suit, stating, “Today we make history in Senate District 5, but this is only the beginning. Let’s turn action into impact and ensure that every district across New York is ready, resilient, and able to save lives when it matters most.”