Excerpts from ChicagoTribune.com:
According to the Lake County Health Department, the supply of Narcan kits that police carry to reverse opioid overdoses was dangerously low—but a local foundation and a fire protection district stepped in to help.
The new kits being purchased are a more user-friendly nasal spray version, fast-tracked by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These kits are easier to use, especially in high-stress situations, and can be administered through just one nostril, unlike older models that required splitting the dose between both nostrils.
"We were really in a tough spot if it hadn’t been for the Filler Foundation and the Warren-Waukegan Fire Protection District," said Susan McKnight, coordinator of the county’s substance-abuse program.
Phillip DeRuntz, a trustee with the fire district, shared that at a recent meeting of the Lake County Opioid Initiative, he learned the health department had only 50 kits left. Then Susan Guggenheim from the Filler Foundation announced a matching grant program for up to $25,000 in Narcan kit funding.
The new kits, provided by Adapt Pharmaceutical, come pre-assembled and contain two doses per unit. This is a significant improvement over previous models, which required assembly and were more complicated to use under pressure.
For the past two years, the health department had sourced 3,000 kits annually from Virginia-based company Kaleo for distribution among the 2,000 law enforcement officers in Lake County. However, due to a shortage this year, they could only provide 1,000 injectable kits, which are less efficient in emergency situations.
Susan Guggenheim explained that the Filler Foundation was established by Mark and Julie Filler of Highland Park after their 23-year-old son died from an opioid overdose. He had initially been revived at home by paramedics and entered rehab, but relapsed and passed away shortly after returning home.
"This was an area where we could make an immediate impact and save a life," she said. The foundation donated $40,000 upfront, along with a matching grant challenge of up to $25,000. They matched the fire district’s $3,750 contribution and have since received additional donations, including $1,000 from Compass Health of Northbrook and $1,800 from the Vernon Hills Police Department.
To further support the cause, the foundation also launched a text-line donation system, allowing individuals to contribute any amount by texting "Hero23" to 41444.
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