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OFFICE OF THE STATE'S ATTORNEY
LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
MICHAEL G. NERHEIM
STATE'S ATTORNEY
April 4, 2017
For Immediate Release
Contact: Cynthia Vargas
(847) 377-3188
cvargas@lakecountyil.gov
From Use to Abuse Drug Forum
An event for parents and community
members to better understand the trends in teen use of opiates and
prescription medication. In
addition, the DEA Chicago Region will be collecting unused, unwanted, and/or
expired prescription medication to properly dispose of it, and take it out of
the reach of youth at the event.
(Lake County, IL April 4, 2017) Lake County State's Attorney Mike Nerheim announced that the Lake County State's Attorney's Office, the Lake County Opioid Initiative, and Warren Township Youth & Family Services will be hosting a drug information forum on Thursday, April 6, 2017 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm at Woodland Middle School 7000 W. Washington Street in Gurnee, IL.
Joan Sheldon from the Robert Crown Centers for Health Education will be hosting a presentation focusing on the adolescent brain development, heroin and other opioid trends, effects of heroin and opioids on the brain, addiction as a brain disease, adolescent risk and protective factors, and how to prevent adolescent substance abuse including parents' role in discussing substance abuse prevention with their children. The Robert Crown Centers for Health Education's mission is to positively impact the physical and mental health of youth through innovative education programs in partnership with parents, schools and communities.
In addition, the DEA Chicago Division and the Gurnee Police Department will be joining in on the night's conversation.
The event also includes a question and answer session with expert panel, unused prescription medication drive, and community resource tables. The following agencies will be present to serve as resources for the attendees:
- Chicago Behavioral Health
- Gateway Foundation-Lake Villa
- Leading Efforts Against Drugs (LEAD)
- Live4Lali
- Lake County State's Attorney's Office
- Lake County Opioid Initiative
- Nicasa Behavioral Health Services
- Dr. Mary Roberson
- Lake County Sheriff's Office
According to the Center's for Disease Control, from 1999 to 2014, more than 165,000 people died from overdose related to prescription opioids in the United States. In 2015, more than 52,000 people died from a drug overdose; of those, 63.1% involved an opioid. In addition, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) found that Americans constituting only 4.6% of the world's population, have been consuming 80% of the global opioid supply.
If anyone needs to dispose of unused or expired prescription medication, they are encouraged to bring the prescription medication to the event. The DEA Chicago Region will be collecting unwanted, unused, and/or expired medication to properly dispose of it, and most importantly take it out of the reach of youth.
Media and the public are encouraged to attend the event. Childcare will be available for attendees.
To register, please visit: www.usetoabuse17.eventbrite.com or call 847-244-1101 ext. *401
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 Lake County State's Attorney's Office 18 N. County Street Waukegan, IL 60085 Phone: (847) 377-3000
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