Lake Co. Sees Uptick In Opioid Deaths Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

LAKE COUNTY, IL — The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted those battling with addiction, leading some to lean on drugs during a tough year. In Lake County, overdose deaths have increased significantly in 2020, according to information released Wednesday by the Lake County Opioid Initiative.

Since January, 73 Lake County residents have died from drug overdoses and 63 of those deaths were opioid-related

“The pandemic has impacted the people of Lake County in many ways, including those suffering from addiction,” said Lake County State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim. “Overdoses are up and people struggling with addiction need us now, more than ever.”

The Lake County Opioid Initiative and the Lake County Underage Drinking and Drug Prevention Taskforce have been working to find ways to combat addiction and are hosting their 3rd annual fund-raising event, which due to the Covid-19 pandemic will be held virtually through Nov. 4.

Every week on Wednesday through Nov. 4, the groups will host events to assist in raising funds, which will fund programming that focuses on reducing overdose death, recovery and will help fund a future ‘A Way Out’ location and programming.

The Virtual Zoom fund-raising events will begin at 6:30 p.m. on the following dates:

• October 14 — Virtual LCOI Trivia: With an option to have your dinner meal delivered to your home. Meal is also available for pick-up.
• October 21 —Virtual Improv Comedy Troupe: With an option to have your dinner meal delivered to your home. Meal is also available for pick-up.
• October 28 —Virtual Cooking Experience with Chicago-based Chef, Brian Jupiter: With an option to have the recipe ingredients delivered to your home prior to the event.
• November 4 —Virtual Family Bingo Night: With an option to have your dinner meal delivered to your home. Meal is available for pick-up.

Those spearheading the opioid initiative have launched programs to help support those addicted to opioids and collaborated with community leaders to bring prevention education information to parents and students, according to a news release.

Lake Co. Opioid Initiative Launches Programs

The Police Naloxone Program is among the programs launched by the Lake Co. Opioid Initiative. Since Dec. 25, 2014, the program is credited with saving 267, according to a news release.

The Lake County Opioid Initiative has also partnered with Leading Efforts Against Drugs (LEAD) out of Lake Forest/Lake Bluff to introduce Text-A-Tip. Text-A-Tip is a digital crisis intervention service, which has received a total of 17,039 texts since September 30, 2015.

The Lake County Opioid Initiative has collaborated with community leaders to bring prevention education information to parents and students. In 2018, a total of five opioid and heroin prevention education programs have been conducted across Lake County.

In addition ‘A Way Out’ program has helped 395 people access treatment. Over the years, the Lake County Opioid Initiative has also spearheaded the following:

• July 21 and 22, 2014 the First Responder Naloxone Trainings were held by the Lake County Health Department and the Mundelein Police Department.
• An anonymous donor, Medline Industries, and Kaleo Pharmaceuticals to train and equip First Responders across Lake County received donations of Naloxone.
• July 30, 2014 the launch of the Naloxone Police Program was announced.
• On April 9, 2015 LCOI officially became a 501 (c) (3) not -for -profit organization.
• On September30, 2015 LCOI Text - A -Tip was launched.
• The Lake County Opioid Initiative has also helped expand the prescription drug collection and destruction program.
• In June 2016, the “A Way Out” program was launched.

Lake Co. Underage Drinking, Drug Prevention Task Force

Following a 2007 alcohol related fatal traffic crash, which took the lives of two underage boys in Deerfield, the Lake County Underage Drinking and Drug Prevention Task Force was created.

The task force was formed by combining the efforts of the Lake County Chiefs of Police Association and the Lake County After School Coalition.

The mission of the Task Force is to provide leadership and resources to reduce and prevent underage drinking and other youth substance use in Lake County and their vision is to have a county-wide environment where youth achieve their full potential, according to the news release.

Over the past decade the Task Force has accomplished many of its goals, including:

• Passing consistent Social Host Ordinances throughout the county
• Passing an Illinois Social Host Law which includes criminal sanctions
• Successfully obtaining a Drug Free Communities (DFC) grant to enhance our efforts
• Placing prescription drug collection boxes in almost every police station in the county
• Creating a state law to allow for the safe disposal of prescription drugs
• Coordinating enforcement efforts including Liquor License Compliance checks throughout the county.
• Working with youth to promote healthy decisions
• Promoting and successfully adding schools who participate in the Illinois Youth Survey
• Producing educational media such as a newspaper inserts and video messages
• Educating legislators and the community on the harms of marijuana