One Year Later - the difference that media attention has made

It was about this time last year that staff at the McPherson Square Library was dreading the arrival of warm weather and the problems that created over the previous two summers.  Warm weather meant a growing population of drug users coming into the park surrounding the library, setting up camp, and consuming drugs of all kinds, but mostly heroin.  Many of the staff members of North Philadelphia libraries were taking every opportunity to educate themselves on the epidemic and the use of the overdose reversal drug, Narcan.  Overdoses were occurring on the lawn in front of the library.  Several of those overdoses were reversed by our Adult/Teen Librarian, Chera.  Things are very different this year.  I asked Judi Moore, the branch head at McPherson Square to write an update.

One year ago, there was a “heroin village” in McPherson Square Park where drug users from the suburbs and out of state had taken over the park.  They were so entrenched that they even had pets living with them.  There was a tension between the users and the neighborhood.  Rock throwing battles erupted several times.  A library staff member witnessed a mother and her young child being robbed by one of the users. 

Because of strong support from library administration, the drug problem was mostly under control inside the library.  We had extra security guards on board, and the bathroom was closely watched by Project Home bathroom monitors.  We had not had an overdose inside the building in over six months.

Outside was a different story.  Overdoses in the park were daily occurrences.  On one particularly bad day the Recreation Department employee cleaning the park had to call 911 five times.  Our security guard kept watch over the park, and would yell in the door to bring the Narcan when he saw somebody was down. 

But, life went on in the neighborhood and in the library.  We were preparing an outdoor festival to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of McPherson Square Library.  That is when Mike Newall and his Inquirer column came into our lives and changed everything.  We had been writing emails and complaining about the users taking over the park and getting no help, except from Free Library administration.  Mike Newall came out to write a pleasant column about our anniversary, but instead wrote his column about the users on the lawn and the Narcan trained librarian saving lives.  It went viral.  The media descended.  We learned a lot about how the news media works—mostly about how much they copy one another.  We were covered by CNN, NBC, the Washington Post, The Atlantic, Library Journal, People, Readers Digest, and so many more.

So, how have things changed post- media invasion?  Once the spotlight was shining, things improved.  The heroin village was cleared out.   Bike police were stationed in the park.  It was decided that McPherson Park would be made into a safe haven for the neighborhood children.  With that in mind, individuals and groups who wanted to offer assistance to the opioid users were encouraged to provide those services someplace other than the park.  The police designated a location outside the park for feeding the users.  The media blitz also attracted help for the children.  A group called CADEKids volunteered to do support programs with the children so they could air their feelings about seeing drug use and overdoses.  Eagles player Torey Smith asked to come for a visit to read to children and give out free books.  Other Eagles players brought gifts at Christmas.

The park is looking much better without the trash and discarded needles from the heroin village residents.   Before the media discovered us our volunteer was picking up over 100 needles per day in the park.  Now it’s around ten.   The police are a presence in the park and in the library.  We have created a coffee station for them, and they use the library for breaks, shelter in bad weather, and as a place to write reports.  We have bike repair equipment that is part of our Maker Jawn program.  We share that equipment with bike officers.

Does this mean the drug problem is gone?  Unfortunately, no.  The neighborhood is still victimized by the opioid epidemic.  The out-of-towners now hang out at the Allegheny el station, riding up and down all day on the elevator.  You cannot walk anywhere in the neighborhood without being solicited to buy “works” and “loosies.”   It’s a rare day when I walk to the el and don’t see an ambulance.  I don’t know what the solution to this crisis is, but at least things are better in the library and in the park.