Will County SUI News Feed

State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, recently introduced legislation to expand mental health screenings for youth.

H.B. 2188 would require medical professionals to discuss a patient's family's mental health history during back-to-school physicals so doctors can educate parents whose children may have mental health risk factors.

The Will County Board hosted United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Regional Director Doug O’Brien at its Committee of the Whole meeting Thursday, March 14. O’Brien provided an update about federal efforts in the opioid crisis and heard from several department heads about programs in the county.

State Senator Michael Hastings will host local experts for a discussion about mental illness, substance use, legislation and policy, and resources available in Will County.

To ensure all library staff members and anyone from the public has access to Narcan, the Fountaindale Public Library in Bolingbrook now keeps the lifesaving antidote in all four of its AEDs (automated external defibrillators). Most of the library staff have been trained to administer Narcan.

The 2019 Hero Helps Community Forum is slated for Friday, May 3, 2019 at the Edward Hospital Athletic and Event Center in Romeoville, IL.

Officials from Will County announced today that the Heroin/Fentanyl Overdose Deaths Dashboard on the county’s website has been recognized by Esri, a global company dedicated to building the world’s most powerful mapping and spatial analytics software.

Last Thursday, Dr. Kathleen Burke, director of Substance Use Initiatives in the Office of Will County Executive Larry Walsh, met with officers from the Grundy County Sheriff’s Department and several other local municipalities in Grundy County to provide an overview of the Will County Safe Passage Network.

JTHS Hosting Wake Up Call Substance Abuse Awareness Event

Joliet Township High School will host a Wake-Up Call Substance Abuse Awareness Event on Thursday, January 31, 2019 from 6:30-8:00 PM at Joliet West High School, 401 N. Larkin Avenue. The event is free and open to all members of the public 21 years of age and older. Dinner will be provided from 5:00-6:15 PM and a resource fair will take place from 5:00-6:30 PM. Free childcare is available.

SPRINGFIELD – Within the past 24 hours, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has received reports of approximately ten individuals transported to area hospitals for respiratory distress, cardiac arrest, or confusion. Individuals reported using crack cocaine before experiencing these symptoms. There has been one death. These cases have been reported in Chicago and suburban Cook County and law enforcement is investigating.

People who use, or know someone who uses illegal drugs, should seek substance use treatment. The Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Use Recovery and Treatment offers resources on its website.

Individuals who experience symptoms of respiratory distress, cardiac arrest, or confusion after using illegal drugs should seek treatment immediately.

Will County is hosting several State of Illinois agencies in a community conversation to discuss the changes in federal and state parity laws relating to mental health and substance use disorder treatments.