AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/tag/drugs/)
Psilocybin, or “magic mushrooms,” could be used under supervision in Illinois to treat mental illnesses and decriminalize the drug in medical settings. State Rep. La Shawn Ford is leading the effort.
Loretto Hospital and Maryville Academy offered free Narcan and trainings last week to commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day.
The training will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Aug. 31 at The Loretto Hospital. Behavioral health clinicians from the hospital and Maryville Academy will show participants how to administer Narcan, which can reverse the effects of an overdose.
State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford has introduced legislation that would allow people to inject illegal drugs under supervision. He hopes lawmakers will vote on the proposal later this year.
Narcan – a medicine that can reverse an overdose – doesn’t work with xylazine, making deadly overdoses more likely, local health officials say. The Cook County medical examiner’s office found 236 xylazie-related deaths over the course of five years, with the numbers increasing each year.
A free information session will be held on Zoom at 6:30 p.m. April 27. A representative from the Chicago Department of Public Health will explain how Narcan can be used to reverse an overdose.
Later this month, patrons at 14 branches across the city will be able to get a free Narcan kit. The Austin locations are at 5615 W. Race Ave., 5724 W. North Ave. and 4856 W. Chicago Ave.
The West Side Heroin and Opioid Task Force offers training each month to help reduce the record number of overdose deaths.
There are programs available in Austin for people who want to continue treatment or seek help for the first time. Austin native Jerome McNutt, who’s been sober for 19 months, says he’s taking things one day at a time and encourages others to do the same. “This is a good time to get your life right.”
State Rep. La Shawn Ford announced the news Aug. 31, which is International Overdose Awareness Day. The lead agency for the award will be Prevention Partnership Inc., a 35- year-old agency located in the Austin neighborhood.