International Overdose Awareness Day

August 31 marks International Overdose Awareness Day, dedicated to raising awareness, remembering those who died and working to end overdose. One in six Americans have a substance use disorder, and 94% do not receive treatment according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSA).

In Chicago, there are more overdose deaths than traffic crash fatalities and homicides combined. The Chicago Fire Department made more than 10,000 overdose-related EMS response calls in 2023, an average of 27 per day.

CDPH offers many tools and resources to combat opioid overdoses including:

• Free naloxone (Narcan), an opioid-related overdose reversal medication. Narcan is available for free in all 81 Chicago Public Library locations, as well as many Aldermanic offices and other community locations. Visit bit.ly/findnarcan.
• The Medication Assisted Recovery NOW program, or MAR NOW, which connects people to treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) including same-day access to medication treatment. MAR NOW is a partnership with the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery (IDHS/SUPR) and Family Guidance Centers. Call 833-234-6343 or text "HELP" to 833234

Learn more at overcomeopiods.org

Prepare for COVID-19 and Flu Season

The FDA recently approved a new COVID-19 vaccine for the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season, and it will be available in early to mid-September. The CDC and CDPH recommend that everyone 6 months of age and older get the new 2024-2025 vaccine to protect themselves and their communities. An annual flu shot is also recommended for everyone 6 months and older.

The new COVID-19 vaccines have been updated with a new formula to more effectively target the variants currently circulating, offering better protection against serious outcomes of COVID-19, such as hospitalization and death. Individuals who have private health insurance, Medicaid or Medicare can receive no-cost vaccines from their local in-network pharmacy or doctor's office. If you aren't sure which pharmacies or clinics are in-network, contact your insurer. CDPH is working to secure vaccine for individuals without health insurance and will share details about where to get it in the coming weeks.

In late September, the Federal government is planning to relaunch their program to offer free at-home COVID-19 tests for all U.S. households. Visit COVIDTests.gov for additional details on when the program will resume. Paxlovid is an effective treatment for people who test positive for COVID-19. The federal Paxcess Program provides free Paxlovid to individuals who test positive for COVID-19 and are either uninsured or covered by Medicare or Medicaid. For more information, visit https://paxlovid.iassist.com/

First 2024 Cases of West Nile Virus in Chicago

Earlier this week, the City of Chicago detected its first three human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) for the 2024 mosquito season, in addition to the first WNV death in the state of Illinois this year. While only 3 cases of West Nile have been identified in Chicago thus far, it is estimated that roughly 70-80% of cases are asymptomatic, and the risk level for WNV in Chicago is currently high. The best way to protect yourself from West Nile virus is to mitigate mosquito bites entirely - try out the following tips:

• Use insect repellant when spending extended time outdoors, containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
• Wear long sleeves, long pants and socks outdoors, especially between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. Light-colored clothing is best.
• Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Replace or repair holes or tears in screens.
• Drain standing water around your home at least once or twice a week. Common places where water collects include outdoor pet dishes, garbage cans, buckets, flowerpots, gutters, wading pools, birdbaths and other objects.
• Mosquitoes like tall grass and weeds - keep them cut short as best you can.

Seek medical attention for any acute onset illness after mosquito exposure, especially with symptoms resembling meningitis like such as a headache, stiff neck, vomiting, and high fever. For more information on fighting West Nile virus, visit the CDPH website.

DNC Donates Food to Non-Profits, Community

Last week, the 2024 Democratic National Convention came to Chicago, and with it thousands of people looking to celebrate the occasion. In collaboration with the DNC and many non-profit community partners, CDPH is proud to have helped ensure over 25,000 of pounds of excess food were donated to those in need throughout the city, preventing excess food waste in the process. The City of Chicago is committed to a mission of sustainability and environmental stewardship, as well as providing needed resources and support for unhoused and food-insecure Chicagoans. For more information on the City's many sustainability efforts, visit the CDPH website.

National Community Health Worker Week

CDPH joins community health workers (CHW's), advocates, and allies across the U.S. for the second annual National Community Health Worker Awareness Week August 26 - August 30. Celebrating who CHWs are, their role in public health and equity, and the value CHWs bring to a community's vitality!

Community health workers go by many names and titles, including care coordinators, doulas, peer educators, promotores de salud, family advocates, and patient navigators. They are a diverse group of support professionals serving local and underserved neighborhoods from major cities to tribal territories and remote rural villages. They are an integral part of the communities in which they live and work. For more information on CHW's in Chicago, click HERE. For information on community health workers nationally, click HERE.

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