Will County SUI News Feed

A State of Illinois expert on the efforts over the past ten years to reduce the number of opioid overdose deaths will be speaking at the 2020 Hero Helps Community Forum, scheduled for Friday, April 24 at the Edward Hospital Athletic and Event Center in Romeoville.

In light of the recent rise in overdoses and overdose deaths in Will County, County Executive Larry Walsh wants to remind residents of two important programs available to those suffering substance use disorder: Safe Passage and the Narcan Distribution Program.

Illinois will receive a $4.5 million grant from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to examine and improve substance use disorder treatment strategies for Medicaid members, the state's Department of Healthcare and Family Services announced today.

Local authorities want to alert the public of a spike in recent overdose deaths in the area due to cocaine laced with fentanyl. These deaths occurred in the Joliet/Lockport area.

A patient has died after being hospitalized with severe respiratory illness after vaping, the Illinois Department of Public Health said Friday.

The Will County Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) Collaborative conducts routine health assessments of the Will County community to identify priority health issues and strategies to address these health issues.

During this year’s Hero Helps Community Summit on Friday, May 3, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker will be present to discuss his plans to address the opioid epidemic including strategies to leverage federal funding opportunities to fight this epidemic locally.

During this year’s Hero Helps Community Summit, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) will be addressed by a panel discussion of local providers. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, MAT is an effective part of long term recovery when used with ongoing counseling and assistance in developing a healthy lifestyle.

State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, recently introduced legislation to expand mental health screenings for youth.

H.B. 2188 would require medical professionals to discuss a patient's family's mental health history during back-to-school physicals so doctors can educate parents whose children may have mental health risk factors.