Illinois officials conduct suburban substance use and awareness events

(The Center Square) – The state of Illinois and the Cook County Department of Public Health have joined forces for a Substance Use and Awareness Series in the near western suburbs of Cook County.

The program includes discussions and training sessions to address substance use. Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, D-Hillside, said it is a life-saving series.

“You know, that’s what this is all about. Getting out to make our communities happier, healthier and safer,” Welch said.

Cook County Department of Public Health Chief Operating Officer Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck said that about 2,300 suburban Cook County residents died from opioid-involved overdoses between 2016 and 2022. He said the Village of Maywood has some of the highest rates of substance use.

“But this is not a Maywood problem. Let me clear about that. This is a Cook County problem. This is a state of Illinois problem. This is a national problem,” Hasbrouck said.

According to data from the Cook County Department of Public Health, 23% of adults in suburban Cook County reported binge drinking. In students who ever used marijuana, the percentage of first use before age 13 was 26% for Blacks, 16% for Hispanics, and 8% for whites.

The Substance Use and Awareness series includes discussions, trainings and gatherings with residents and other key stakeholders. The events are intended to raise awareness, reduce stigma and increase access to naloxone across suburban Cook County.

The current series, which runs through the month of August, is focused on Maywood and the surrounding communities.

The Illinois Department of Public Health is providing about $40,000 in taxpayer funding. Federal taxpayers are contributing $29,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Welch said these are the types of programs he is fighting for every day in Springfield. Welch claimed that state lawmakers passed balanced budgets the last six years, including the last four since he became speaker.

“Each one of those budgets the last four years has increased funding at record levels for mental health services, for substance use and abuse services, and it’s something that we have to continue to make a top priority,” Welch said.

Additional awareness and education series are planned in suburban Cook County over the next year.