CHICAGO - The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the West Side Heroin/Opioid Task Force are launching an intensive 10-week door-knocking campaign on the West Side to share information and resources with residents and businesses to combat the alarming rise in opioid-related overdoses in the past few years.

Dubbed Operation S.O.S. (Summer Overdose Safety), the effort will send out trained outreach workers with a goal of covering the nearly 1,300 blocks on the West Side that experienced at least one overdose-related EMS response last year, starting with blocks that have experienced three or more overdose responses in 2023.

“Chicago’s families, particularly families on the South and West Sides, are bearing the brunt of the opioid crisis,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “With Operation S.O.S., we are taking the fight against overdose deaths and substance abuse directly into the communities by knocking on thousands of doors. Our mission is to save lives, educate the community, and provide our people with the resources that they need to heal.”

The outreach teams will start the day packing harm-reduction kits at the Austin Public Library. The kits include the overdose-reversal medication Narcan, test strips to check for the presence of fentanyl (a powerful synthetic form of opioids), and information about the Medication Assisted Recovery (MAR) NOW program. MAR NOW is a partnership with the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery (IDHS/SUPR) that offers free, same-day access to medications to treat opioid use disorder through the Illinois Helpline.

“We typically see a rise in overdoses in the summer months. Yet, we have tools to help prevent fatal overdoses, and this year we are working hard to get these tools out into communities,” said CDPH Commissioner Olusimbo ‘Simbo’ Ige, MD, MS, MPH. “With greater awareness and understanding of opioid overdoses, as well as ready access to overdose reversal and treatment medications, everybody can play a role in helping to save lives.”

In 2022, there were more opioid-related overdose deaths in Chicago (1,397) than homicides and traffic crash fatalities combined. Sixty-five percent of those fatalities were among Non-Latinx Black individuals and 78 percent were men.

CDPH is focused on treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) as well as harm reduction efforts to reduce overdoses and fatal outcomes.

Through the MAR NOW program, launched in May 2022, callers to the Helpline for Opioids and Others Substances can be connected via telemedicine to OUD treatment medication, as well as free transportation, insurance enrollment, assistance with pharmacy access and connection to local providers for follow-up care. MAR consists of FDA-approved medications that reduce the risk of drug overdose and death, reduces withdrawal symptoms, and supports care engagement over time. The Helpline is a free statewide resource available 24/7. Call 833-234-6343 or text “HELP” to 833234 to contact the Helpline.

Narcan, the FDA-approved nasal spray form of naloxone, is a crucial tool in the public health response to the opioid crisis. Narcan is available for free in all 81 Chicago Public Library locations, as well as many Aldermanic offices and other community locations. It does not require medical training to administer and has no harmful effects if given to someone who is not experiencing an overdose. Narcan distribution programs have been shown to decrease opioid-related overdose fatalities nationwide.

Last year, CDPH launched a public health vending machine pilot program to distribute harm reductions tools as well as hygiene kits in five locations throughout the city: Harold Washington Library, the Uptown Library, the CTA Red Line station at 95th Street, Roseland Triage Center, and Garfield Community Service Center. Visit chicago.gov/vendingmachines to learn more or request a PIN code to access no-cost supplies.

Residents can also visit bit.ly/findnarcan for a complete list of locations with free harm reduction tools.

Individuals and organizations can also request no-cost harm reduction training as well as supplies including Narcan, fentanyl test kits and xylazine test kits by emailing osu.cdph@cityofchicago.org

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