I am so excited and proud to announce that Walgreens will install prescription drug disposal boxes in 500 stores across 39 states!  Last year State's Attorney Mike Nerheim and I met with Walgreens to request that they consider adding these boxes to their stores for the following reasons:

• An estimated 10-33% of prescribed meds go unused
• 70% of people who abuse prescription meds get them from a friend or family member
• Accidental opioid overdoses has quadrupled since 1999 and outnumbers heroin and cocaine combined
• Access to opioids in the home can lead to abuse by teens, and accidental overdoses by children and elderly
• Improper disposal of pharmaceuticals pollutes our water and our land.  
• Take Back Days aren’t enough: People stockpile prescriptions in their homes for a one day/year event.
• While people can bring them to police stations, it's an added inconvenience.  Under this current model, the cost to dispose of these unwanted pharmaceuticals is borne by the taxpayer, since the collection and destruction has been overseen by government agencies.

I expressed that this would be good for Walgreens too:

• It fits with their mission of social responsibility and environmental sustainability
• It drives traffic to their stores with an additional visit
• It creates increased customer loyalty due to commitment to employees, community, and the environment

  I am tremendously grateful to Walgreens for being a leader and a partner in our communities and that Lake County was recognized as an important ally in this initiative.  This move makes the disposal of medications — including opioids and other controlled substances — easier and more convenient while helping to reduce the misuse of medications and the rise in overdose deaths.

See Rare Shakespeare book FREE at Lake County Discovery Museum, the only location in Illinois

Don't miss your chance to see one of the rarest, most valuable and most influential books in the world––the 1623 Shakespeare First Folio. This once-in-a-lifetime national touring exhibit commemorates the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death in 1616. The exhibit runs through Feb. 28 and thanks to a generous donation, is FREE at the Lake County Discovery Museum.   Learn more about this exhibit.

Are you Ready for the Upcoming Election?

There are several ways to register to vote in the upcoming General Primary Election. You can visit one of several Official Places of Voter Registration until Feb. 16; the Lake County Clerk’s Office, 18 N. County St., Room 101, Waukegan, online at LakeCountyClerk.info, or at an Illinois DMV when updating your driver’s license. You must be registered before receiving a ballot. For more information on the upcoming election, including changes in election law and the different ways to vote, watch this video.

LakeVoterPower.info is the one-click source for complete customized voter information, such as confirmation of voter registration; requesting a ballot by mail; directions to early and Election Day voting sites; and viewing a sample ballot.

Opioid initiative spearheads effort to train school nurses to administer Naxolone to students

School nurses can now be trained to administer Naloxone to any student experiencing an overdose without any legal barriers. Naloxone is an antidote to opioid overdose that is administered and blocks or reverses the effects of opioid medication. The Lake County Opioid Initiative policy committee helped pass a bill that provides immunity for nurses within schools to have the ability to administer Naloxone. The Lake County Opioid Initiative’s mission is to develop, implement, evaluate and sustain a multi-strategy countywide effort to prevent opioid abuse, addiction, overdose, and death. More information

What's My Water Quality?  

The water crisis in Flint, Michigan has some people thinking more about what comes out of their tap. Lake County Public Works provides water to customers across Lake County. To learn more about what we are doing to protect your local drinking water quality and find out where your water comes from, watch this video. You can also view our annual water quality consumer confidence reports. 

Dispose of Needles Properly!

When medical sharps (lancets, needles and syringes) are not disposed of properly, they could injure family members, trash handlers or others who might come in contact with them. It is now against the law to knowingly mix sharps with materials intended to be recycled by a residential hauler. You can prevent injury by placing sharp objects in a hard-plastic or metal container with a tight screw-on lid and place it in your trash, not recycling, container or bin. Do not use glass or clear plastic containers or put sharp objects in a container that will be used for recycling or returned to a store. Read more to learn about how to safely dispose of sharps.

Get a kit to check radon in your home

Residents are encouraged to check radon levels in their homes or apartments during the winter months. Radon is an odorless and colorless gas and can increase your risk of lung cancer. The Lake County Health Department Community Health Center offers short-term test kits to test levels in your home. Watch Healthy Lake County to learn more about this as well as tips on healthy eating and protecting yourself from hypothermia.

Make your picnic shelter reservations 

Lake County Forest Preserve picnic shelters and open areas are popular locations for family gatherings, wedding receptions, company picnics and other special events. Plan your 2016 event early to ensure your first choice of shelter and date. Reserve shelters online, by calling 847-367-6640, or in person.