The DuPage County Heroin Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Taskforce recently outlined its framework and means to reduce the number of opioid deaths in DuPage County over the next three years.
At its January 18 meeting, 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 recent news from Coroner Dr. Richard Jorgensen that the epidemic continues to have an acute impact on our County,” said HOPE Taskforce co-chairman and County Board member Greg Hart.
“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, please visit www.hopedupage.org.
—County of DuPage