2,000 Narcan doses donated to Cook County to combat opioid epidemic

COOK COUNTY - From prevention to life-saving Narcan, events across the Chicago area on Monday focused on tackling the opioid epidemic.

An "End Overdose Now" rally was held at Daley Plaza. It was hosted by the Illinois Harm Reduction & Recovery Coalition and partners to remember the lives lost and create awareness about the overdose crisis.

"I look forward to working with all of you today and in days to come to make sure that we end overdose now," said Mayor Brandon Johnson, who was in attendance to show his support.

Dave Jimenez is part of the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health.

"We are part of this event here to make sure we spread the word about how to prevent overdoses," he said.

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Meanwhile, there was a fair Monday to educate everyone about life-saving solutions, like Naloxone — also known as Narcan — which reverses opioid overdoses.

"We need this so desperately," said Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart.

A pharmaceutical company, US WorldMeds — which is based in Louisville, Kentucky — has donated 2,000 Naloxone devices to the Cook County Sheriff's Office.

"We flag people when they come in. People with opioid issues. People who have been in our custody before with opioid issues. We then pull them aside and see if they are willing to, and they always are, be trained on Naloxone," Dart said.

It was facilitated by Matthew McFarland, who used to be an addict.

"This was me about eight years ago," he said while holding up a mugshot of himself from the past. "There were many times in my addiction that I was, myself revived, by using Naloxone."

McFarland, now the Vice President at the Lawndale Christian Legal Center, carries Naloxone everywhere he goes. He says he has saved more than 50 people.

"It’s the one thing that you never think you’re going to use, but when you have it, it saves lives," he said.

Cook County experienced a record-high 2,000 deaths from opioid overdoses in 2022. McFarland hopes to change that.

"We are very community-based. Community-centered. This is a lot of Naloxone folks, and we need to get it in the hands of people who are going to save a lot of lives," he said.

The Cook County Sheriff's Office says they're committed to distributing the Naloxone doses through various programs aimed at combating opioid overdoses in the county.

"The drug treatment that was offered to me through one of the Cook County drug courts, it wasn't easy getting into recovery. There were many times in my addiction that I was, myself, revived using Naloxone," said McFarland.

The year 2021 saw 1,935 overdose-related deaths.