Continued Increase in Suspected Overdose Deaths Reported in McHenry County
Post Date:03/19/2024 8:00 AM
Media Contact:
McHenry County Department of Health
Nick Kubiak, Community Information Coordinator
3/19/2024
Continued Increase in Suspected Overdose Deaths Reported in McHenry County
This media release is a follow-up to the 2/20/24 release, 'Increase in Suspected Overdose Deaths Reported in McHenry County'
MCHENRY COUNTY, IL – The McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) is informing McHenry County residents of a continued increase in suspected overdose deaths – the current number of suspected overdose deaths to-date in 2024 is about twice as high as the median number from 2020 to 2023 during the same timeframe. There has also been an increase in EMS encounters where naloxone was used to treat an opioid overdose.
While these deaths are currently suspected and not confirmed as opioid-related, the majority of McHenry County's overdose fatalities involve opioids, often with fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, as reported by the McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition (SAC). Fentanyl, a highly lethal substance, is still being discovered in different illicit drugs across the county. This includes counterfeit pills that are sold as 'legitimate prescription medications' but are obtained unlawfully.
Due to the continued increase in suspected overdose deaths reported in McHenry County, the MCDH would like to highlight online resources regarding Narcan and fentanyl testing strips that are available 24/7 for free:
How to Use Narcan® Nasal Spray
How Does Narcan® Nasal Spray Work?
How Do I Know if I’m Witnessing an Opioid Emergency?
How to Use Fentanyl Testing Strips (image) & Rapid Response™ Fentanyl Test Strip Demonstration (video)
The MCDH and its partners want residents to remain safe and ensure they have the supplies they need. Narcan nasal spray can be used to reverse an overdose and fentanyl test strips can be used to detect fentanyl in all types of drugs to help prevent overdoses. Fentanyl test strips and Narcan are available for free at the following locations in McHenry County:
McHenry County Department of Health
Supplies are available for walk-ins Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm. For more information, please call (815) 334-4500.
Woodstock: 2200 N. Seminary Avenue, Building A
Crystal Lake: 100 N. Virginia Street
Supplies are also available for free at MCDH Narcan vending machines throughout McHenry County:
The Other Side Café and Sober Bar · (135 Beardsley Street – Crystal Lake, IL 60014)
McHenry County College (Cafeteria) · (8900 Northwest Highway #14 – Crystal Lake, IL 60012)
Community Health Partnership (62 N. Ayer Street – Harvard, IL 60033)
Youth and Family Center of McHenry County (1011 N. Green Street – McHenry, IL 60050)
Live4Lali’s McHenry County Outreach Program includes free community (in-person and virtual) naloxone trainings, confidential harm reduction supply delivery, and SMART Recovery® meetings. For more information, visit live4lali.org/mchenrycounty. Supplies for local delivery are available by visiting bit.ly/l4lsupplies or by calling or texting (224) 297-4393.
Supplies are also available at various events across McHenry County on a regular basis:
Community Resource Days at Willow Creek Church in Crystal Lake · 10am-2pm (every Friday)
Harvard Food Pantry · 9:30am-11:30am & 3pm-5pm (3rd and 4th Tuesdays every month)
Hebron Food Pantry · 2pm-4pm (1st and 3rd Thursdays of every month)
Marengo Food Pantry · 4pm-6pm (last Thursday of every month)
Warp Corps in Woodstock · 11am-2pm (every Tuesday)
Supplies are available Monday through Saturday, 10am-6pm, at 114 N. Benton Street in Woodstock. For more information, call (815) 985-6256.
Supplies are also available at various events across McHenry County on a weekly basis:
Woodstock Public Library · 12pm-3pm (every Monday)
Community Resource Days at Willow Creek Church in Crystal Lake · 10am-2pm (every Friday)
The Break Crystal Lake Teen Center
Please call (815)575-9358 to inquire about available supplies.
A Way Out – McHenry County offers substance use assessment, on a daily basis, from 8am-11pm to anyone in McHenry County that wishes to seek recovery. If you are unable to pay for treatment due to lack of insurance or financial resources, you will not be turned away. A Way Out works with providers that accept several different insurance plans and accommodate those without insurance. For support and navigation to treatment, please visit their website, call (815) 347-0385, or email INFO@NDARS.ORG.