Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:
According to the Lake County Health Department, the supply of Narcan kits that police officers carry to reverse opioid overdoses was dangerously low. However, a foundation and a fire protection district stepped in to help before the situation became critical.
The newly purchased kits are a more user-friendly nasal spray version, fast-tracked by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Advocates say this type is easier to use and more effective in emergency situations.
“We were really in a tough spot if it wasn’t for the Filler Foundation and the Warren-Waukegan Fire Protection District,†said Susan McKnight, coordinator for the county’s substance-abuse program. “Their support has made a real difference.â€
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 they would launch a matching grant program, offering up to $25,000 in funding for additional kits.
McKnight explained that the new kits, provided by Adapt Pharmaceutical, contain two doses per unit and don’t require assembly like some other devices. They can also be administered through just one nostril, unlike older models that required splitting the dose between both nostrils.
For the past two years, the health department had been able to secure 3,000 kits annually from Virginia-based company Kaleo for distribution among the 2,000 law-enforcement officers in Lake County. But due to a shortage this year, they could only provide 1,000 injectable kits.
Susan Guggenheim, who represents the Filler Foundation, shared the story behind the foundation. It 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 by paramedics during his battle with addiction, but relapsed and passed away shortly after returning home.
“This was an area where we could make an immediate impact and save a life,†Guggenheim said. The foundation donated $40,000, and offered a matching grant challenge of up to $25,000. They matched the fire district’s $3,750 contribution and have since received more donations, including a $1,000 gift from Compass Health of Northbrook and $1,800 from the Vernon Hills Police Department.
To further support the cause, the foundation has also set up a text-line donation system. Individuals can now contribute any amount by texting “Hero23†to 41444.
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