Overdose Awareness Event Offers Narcan Training, Speaker Panel

NEW LENOX, IL — The village of New Lenox and the New Lenox Safe Communities America Coalition will host "Your Light Still Shines," in support of International Overdose Awareness Day. The event will be held on Aug. 22 at Lincoln-Way West High School, 21701 Gougar Road, New Lenox.

According to a release, those who attend the event can learn more about the heroin epidemic and what can be done to save lives. Those who have lost a loved one to a drug overdose are invited to bring a framed photo that will be displayed on a memorial table during the event.

Schedule for the event will be :

• 5:30 to 7 p.m. - Narcan Training
• 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. - Informational and memorial tables, and HERO “Hidden in Plain Sight” Trailer, unwanted medication takeback
• 7 to 8 p.m. - Main Event/Speakers, including Mayor of New Lenox Tim Baldermann; Lincoln-Way West Director of Pupil Personnel Services Dr. Holly Pierson; Jessie Rose Monreal, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor and writer; Dr. Joseph Beck, Medical Director, UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Addiction Treatment; John Roberts of Heroin Epidemic Relief Organization; James Glasgow, Will County State’s Attorney; Dr. Kathleen Burke, Director Substance Use Initiatives, Will County Executive’s Office.

Narcan Training

At the event, there will also be free Narcan training. The training will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Lincoln-Way West High School.

Dr. Kathleen Burke, Director Substance Use Initiatives, Will County Executive’s Office, will be the instructor for this class. Burke will also provide everyone in attendance with a Narcan Nasal Spray Kit, upon completion of the training.

According to a release, Narcan is a medicine that blocks the effects of opioids and reverses a drug overdose. You can register for the training on Eventbrite.

Prescription Medicine Takeback

Also at the event, the New Lenox Safe Communities America Coalition, in partnership with the New Lenox Police Department and the Will County Land Use Department – Resource Recovery and Energy Division, will offer an Unwanted Medication Takeback Event.

The police department will be at Lincoln-Way West High School from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. to receive unwanted medications from citizens. You should enter on the west side of the campus off of Gougar Road. The disposal table / area will be set-up in the drive just outside the auditorium.

According to a releae, acceptable prescription and over-the-counter medications include pills, salves and liquid medications in original containers. Items not in original containers must be packaged in non-leaking containers, such as zip-loc bags. Unacceptable items include sharps, needles, IV bags, thermometers and medical waste.