|
December 5, 2017
Lake County, Ill. – On Tuesday, December 5, 2017, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lake
County Health Department and Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC) launched a Naloxone education program for Lake County Jail inmates.
The program kicked off with a Lake County Health Department representative visiting the pods and informing inmates of the opportunity for Naloxone training. TASC is set to provide Naloxone training to inmates preparing for
release, with a goal of reducing opioid-related deaths.
Sheriff
Mark C. Curran, Jr. stated, “We know inmates with Substance Use Disorder have a
high rate of relapse. Through this program, we hope to educate inmates on how
to prevent overdoses and on the rehabilitative resources that are available. If
they refrain from using during their first couple weeks out of jail, they may
be more likely to seek help for their addiction.”
“Research
determined that former inmates are at high risk for death from drug overdose,
especially in the immediate post-release period,” said Mark Pfister, the Health
Department’s Executive Director. “A person’s drug tolerance can diminish during
their time in jail, so the risk of overdose is higher.”
A Lake County
Health Department representative will make monthly visits to each pod at the
Lake County Jail to educate inmates on the use of Naloxone and encourage them
to register for individual training. Inmates who register will be trained to
use the overdose antidote by a TASC representative. Following completion of the
training, a dose of Naloxone, along with information about addiction treatment
services, will be added to the inmate’s property bag. These items are made
available to the inmate upon release from jail.
The new program is funded by a grant
from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA),
administered through the Department of Human Services.
“Collaborating
with our community partners helps us to address the growing problem of opioid
addiction in Lake County,” stated Curran. “This initiative enables us to discuss
recovery and harm reduction with inmates while they are still in jail.”
“These
individuals face a difficult transition back into society, often heading back
into an environment that encourages their return to substance use,” said
Pfister. “This is an intervention that we hope will save lives.”
Since
2014, the Lake County Health Department has trained law enforcement agencies,
schools, community coalitions, municipalities, and medical provider groups on
the administration of Naloxone. In addition, the Health Department has
distributed over 4,000 doses of Naloxone throughout Lake County. Since being
trained in August 2014, members of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office have saved 54
lives with Naloxone.
###
Pictured L2R: Lake County Health Department Program Coordinators Martin Clancy and Nicole Lasak and TASC Representative Amanda Leonard meet with Lake County Jail inmates interested in learning about Naloxone and substance use treatment.
Contact:
Hannah Goering
hgoering@lakecountyil.gov
(847) 377-8099
| 
