AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/tag/overdose/)
Mark “International Overdose Awareness Day” by joining members of the West Side Heroin/Opioid Task Force at 11 a.m. Aug. 31 at the corner of Pulaski and Jackson, 4000 W. Jackson.
A new state law protects a person who provides emergency medical assistance to someone who’s experiencing an overdose. A Good Samaritan in these cases cannot be arrested, charged or prosecuted for drug violations. State Rep. La Shawn Ford lauds the new law, noting more Good Samaritans are needed to give naloxone, the medication used to reverse an overdose.
The West Side Heroin and Opioid Task Force offers training each month to help reduce the record number of overdose deaths.
Faith leaders on the West Side are being encouraged to get trained on how to stop someone from having an overdose. At the monthly meeting of the 15th Police District’s faith-based leaders, attendees also were urged to complete training offered by the Chicago chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Starting at noon Monday at 4000 W. Jackson, state Rep. La Shawn Ford and representatives from several community groups – including Prevention Partnership, Thresholds, The Night Ministry, Fathers Who Care, Rush Hospital, Heartland Alliance and Healthcare Alternative Services – will provide overdose reversal training; distribute Narcan/naloxone and PPE; make referrals to medication-assisted recovery for addiction treatment; and help with housing.
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.
State Rep. La Shawn Ford and Congressman Danny Davis brought together representatives from a number of groups fighting the opioid epidemic on the West Side.
Residents can help fight the epidemic by carrying naloxone, the opioid blocker that can stop an overdose. African Americans are dying at a higher rate than whites, experts said at the meeting, held late last month in Austin.
More than 750 people die in Chicago each year from opioid overdose. Join the conversation about what can be done about this public health epidemic. Dinner and childcare will be provided during the event, which will be held 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 27 at Austin Town Hall, 5610 W. Lake St.
The Heroin Task Force will hold a town hall meeting Oct. 26 at Loretto Hospital.