Lake County Opioid Initiative Information

The Lake County Opioid Initiative is committed to developing, implementing, evaluating and sustaining a multi-strategy county-wide effort to prevent opioid abuse, addiction, overdose, and death. In addition to the 'A Way Out' program, the Lake County Opioid Initiative has launched other programs to help support citizens impacted by the opioid epidemic. The Police Naloxone Program has saved 262 lives since December 25, 2014. Text-A-Tip, a digital crisis intervention service, has received a total of 17,039 texts since September 30, 2015. Finally, the Lake County Opioid Initiative has collaborated with community leaders to bring prevention education information to parents and students. In the year 2018, a total of five opioid/heroin prevention education programs have been conducted across Lake County. LCOI also supports a network of prescription disposal boxes in Lake County. Partnerships include: Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO); municipal law enforcement, the Lake County Sheriff's Office, the Lake County State's Attorney's Office, the Lake County Health Department, the Lake County Opioid Initiative, and the Lake County Underage Drinking and Drug Prevention Task Force. In the year 2017, over 13,000 pounds of unwanted/unused prescription drugs were collected. To raise funds to continue accessibility of these programs, the Lake County Opioid Initiative will be hosting its first annual 'Save a Life' fundraising event at the Double-Tree by Hilton in Mundelein, IL on September 14, 2018 at 6:30pm.