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Lake County, Ill. — The Lake County Health Department, Lake County Opioid Initiative, and participating police departments are proud to announce that the A Way Out program has served 1,003 clients. A Way Out is a life-saving program in Lake County that helps people access substance use treatment.
A Way Out aims to reduce overdoses and improve access to treatment. Through A Way Out, a person can walk into a participating police department, turn in any drugs and paraphernalia without fear of criminal charges, and access inpatient or outpatient care. Law enforcement calls the Lake County Health Department which begins finding appropriate treatment for the person, and following treatment health department staff can continue to provide support. Recovery support and treatment can include peer support, case management, withdrawal management (detox) and inpatient rehab, outpatient options including Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), transitional and recovery housing, and community resources.
“We’re breaking the stigma of mental health and substance use disorders,” said Sam Johnson, Director of Behavioral Health at the Lake County Health Department. “The A Way Out program allows people in our community to seek help without fear of judgment or legal consequences.”
Following the implementation of A Way Out in June 2016, Lake County saw greater reductions in non-fatal overdoses, fatal drug and opioid overdoses, and property crime arrests.1 However, overdoses continue to be a concern in Lake County, particularly because of the increase in the use of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that carries a higher risk of death. In 2023 alone, Lake County saw 117 overdose deaths by the end of October, and fentanyl was involved in more than half of those deaths.2
A Way Out is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Anyone age 18 and over can participate in A Way Out. Citizenship status and language do not affect eligibility. To learn more about A Way Out, how it works, and to find participating police departments, visit lakecountyil.gov/AWayOut.
About the Lake County Health Department
The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center is a county health department, a federally qualified health center (FQHC) and a direct provider of behavioral health services to residents of Lake County, Illinois. The Health Department’s mission is promoting the health and well-being of all who live, work, and play in Lake County. To accomplish this mission, the Health Department works closely with community partners to address the social, economic, and environmental causes of health inequity. For more information, visit health.lakecountyil.gov.
This project was supported by grant no. 2022-15PBJA-22GG-0449-COAP awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
2 Drug Statistics. (October 2023). Lake County Coroner’s Office.
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