Above / DuPage County Health Department is located in Wheaton, the county seat. (PN File Photo)
DUPAGE COUNTY— On Jan. 18, 2019, the DuPage County Heroin Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Taskforce outlined its framework and means to reduce the number of opioid deaths in DuPage County over the next three years.
At its meeting on Friday, the Taskforce agreed to five objectives to address the ongoing public health crisis facing our community.
“Reducing access to opioids and increasing access to treatment is particularly important, considering yesterday’s news from Coroner Dr. Richard Jorgensen that the epidemic continues to have an acute impact on our County,” said HOPE Taskforce co-chairman Greg Hart in a written statement. “While the 2018 overdose death numbers are concerning, we have a dedicated group partners on the HOPE Taskforce doing important work in our community. The HOPE Taskforce is committed to bringing forth new and innovative solutions in the coming months and years that will hopefully make a positive impact for the individuals, families, and DuPage County communities impacted by this epidemic.”
“This is one of the most complex health issues we have ever faced in DuPage County,” said health department executive director Karen Ayala. “The HOPE Taskforce is committed to expanding all available resources to get to the root of this epidemic.”
The main objective of the HOPE Taskforce is to coordinate the efforts of the many community partners and strategies needed to address this crisis. The five goals outlined by the HOPE Taskforce to complete this objective are: Reduce Access to Drugs; Reduce Opioid Use and Misuse; Increase Overdose Response; Integrated Mental Health, and Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery; and Substance Use Prevention and Education.
For more information, visit www.hopedupage.org.
Report submitted by Don Bolger, Public Information Officer, DuPage County Health Department.
Dispose leftover medications safely
According to the HOPE website, “misuse of prescription drugs can be prevented through proper disposal of leftover medications and securely storing medications that are still being used.”
Never flush or toss in trash
Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
Since 2014, the City of Naperville has maintained 11 permanent prescription drug drop boxes that are available to the public year-round at locations throughout the community.
In addition to the Naperville Police Station at 1350 Aurora Avenue, every Naperville fire station has a sealed drop box located outside of the building accessible to the public 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. No questions are asked.
