Laura Fry was just finishing her hike through a Lake County forest preserve this past spring when she saw two people slumped over in a vehicle.
Luckily, as executive director of Live4Lali, an overdose prevention advocacy organization, Fry always carries with her boxes of the opioid overdose antidote drug naloxone – also known by brand name Narcan.
She called 9-1-1, and administered the nasal drug “like Flonase” – just a firm spray into a nostril.
She recounted the incident Nov. 16 at a special community training session presented by the Lake County Opioid Task Force, where officials demonstrated how to administer Narcan.
Fry only knows that the pair she aided were a man and a woman possibly in their 30s:
“I have no idea who they were, and I will never see them again,” she said.
But it is believed she likely saved their lives.
Fry and other addiction support advocates urge people to receive training on how to administer the potentially life-saving Narcan, which they call “a miracle.” Naloxone has been more readily available since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in March approved the first over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray to help combat the nationwide opioid crisis.
Members of the Lake County Opioid Task Force’s “A Way Out” program conducted the opioid addiction education and training session at the event hosted by the Vernon Township Community Mental Health Board and held at the township office in Buffalo Grove. The free session, which was also open to the public, was funded by Live4Lali.
“The Mental Health Board wants as many people as possible to feel comfortable administering Narcan in the event they encounter someone who may be experiencing an overdose,” Community Mental Health Board President Noelle Moore said in an email to Pioneer Press. “This simple action saves lives.”
Arlington Heights-based Live4Lali works to “reduce stigma and prevent substance use disorder among individuals, families, and communities, and minimize the overall health, legal and social harms associated with substance use,” according to the nonprofit organization’s website.
Members of the mental health board asked various questions, wondering how they can help and wanting to do better getting the word out about the various resources available, as well as how to reduce the stigma surrounding substance use disorders and address root issues – beyond treating the symptoms.
“I think many people just don’t understand substance abuse is an illness,” said Sally Thoren, vice president of the mental health board member, as the group discussed overarching systemic issues – including a lack of support and advocacy for mental health.
“We need to get to the root cause,” Fry told the group that Thursday night. “Using a substance is a symptom of something else.”
Currently, people wanting to get clean are running into many barriers, advocates say. From insufficient health and mental health coverage to long waiting lists to see professionals, there aren’t enough beds at detox centers and it can take months to see a therapist.
“I know kids in their 20s who have lost 50, 60 friends,” Fry said. “You can’t go to that many funerals at 25 and be OK. You just can’t.”
The actual administering training, using naloxone and rubber noses, came toward the end of the more than hour-long meeting that included health board members, other advocates and county experts. Discussion also centered on the opioid crisis in Lake County.
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The Vernon Township Mental Health Board, also known as the 708 board, was established last year after township voters approved a referendum.
In Lake County last year, there were 1.9 opioid overdose deaths per 10,000 people, and 6.3 nonfatal opioid overdose cases per 10,000, according to the county health department.
In total, there were 402 opioid overdose-related emergency room visits in the county, of which 102 resulted in death, according to Lake County health department spokeswoman Emily Young.
So far in 2023, Lake County has seen 114 overdose deaths, with 94 of them opioid-related, according to the Lake County Coroner’s Office.
Advocates urge the public to request free boxes of the drug.
“You never know when you’re going to be walking around and see someone slumped over,” Fry said.
Christine Won is a freelancer.