Health
Chicago Groups Aim to Improve Access to Life-Saving Overdose Reversal Drug Naloxone While Normalizing Conversations Around Drug-Use
(Marvin Samuel Tolentino Pineda / iStock)
Community organizations in Chicago are underlining the importance of free and easy access to the overdose reversal drug naloxone, as it approaches one year since the name-brand version of the drug was made available for over-the-counter sale.
In 2023, there were 1,819 confirmed opioid overdose deaths in Cook County, according to the county’s medical examiner's office.
Last year’s numbers are down from the record-high of 2,000 confirmed opioid overdose deaths in 2022, but continue to mirror the overall increased number of deaths due to opioid overdoses that began during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While over-the-counter Narcan can help to normalize carrying the overdose reversal drug, it’s not a realistic option for many people that Chicago Recovery Alliance works with, said Executive Director John Werning.
“They’re not going into a Walgreens to buy a $50 box of nasal Narcan – it’s just too expensive,” Werning said. “It’s a step in the right direction, but we need to make better strides to make free naloxone the standard.”
Through building trust within communities, outreach workers with the Chicago Recovery Alliance help distribute naloxone, in addition to offering a variety of services and trainings to people who want to reduce drug-related harm in their lives and in their communities.
Outreach workers with the West Side Heroin/Opioid Task Force also began a new door-to-door campaign in late July to help get more Narcan in people’s homes.
The campaign, in partnership with the Chicago Department of Public Health, also involves getting feedback from residents about the resources they’d like to see, including the possibility of overdose prevention and wellness sites, said Fanya Burford-Berry, director of West Side Heroin/Opioid Task Force.
“We can develop healthier, practical systems for people who use drugs, and for people who don’t use drugs, that will make sense for their life,” Burford-Berry said. “That’s what harm reduction is all about.”
In addition to the increase in overdoses the West Side Heroin/Opioid Task Force typically sees in the summer, Burford-Berry said, another increasing concern is the introduction of animal tranquilizers, such as xylazine and medetomidine, in the drug supply.
The effects of xylazine and medetomidine – which are not opioids – cannot be reversed by naloxone.
A more comprehensive, non-judgmental approach to educating people about drug use can help save lives, Werning said.
“Most Americans in their lifetime are going to be using drugs or alcohol and we don’t teach them anything about it — quite the opposite – we teach them to be ashamed of their alcohol or drug use and be very ill-equipped to ask questions when they do have an issue or want to change their behavior,” Werning said.
Werning said he’s hopeful about the increase in comprehensive drug education in the state in light of Louie’s Law passed last year, which is aimed at improving drug education standards in Illinois K-12 schools.
Dr. Mai Tuyet Pho, an infectious disease physician and an associate professor at the University of Chicago who studied naloxone access in Illinois, said the priority in decreasing overdose deaths should be funding and supporting grassroots, harm reduction organizational efforts.
“There’s a ton of stigma related to drug use and any interventions that are being implemented to support people who use drugs,” Pho said. “As much effort and funding that we put forth on expanding access to naloxone, we should also be doing the same for other harm reduction interventions like drug testing and safe supplies for people who are using.”
Where to Get Naloxone for Free
Narcan can be found at all 81 branches of the Chicago Public Library. Visit bit.ly/FindNarcan to find a location near you.
Narcan can also be found at five CDPH vending machines:
- Uptown Library (929 W/ Buena Ave.)
- Garfield Community Service Center (10 S. Kedzie Ave.)
- Harold Washington Library (400 S State St.)
- 95th/Dan Ryan Red Line CTA Station (14 W 95th St.)
- Roseland Community Triage Center (200 E 115th St.)
The Cook County Department of Public Health also partners with law enforcement agencies and community-based organizations to provide naloxone. Click here to find a location.
Contact Eunice Alpasan: @eunicealpasan | 773-509-5362 | [email protected]
