10/02/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/02/2024 11:49
CHICAGO - The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) today posted a report executive summary, sharing that intensive opioid outreach efforts this summer, especially on the West Side, played a role in flattening the curve of opioid-related deaths. Compared to the same summer months of 2023, the number of opioid overdose-related Emergency Medical Services responses June 1-August 31 decreased by 23%.
In Chicago, opioid overdoses had risen exponentially since pre-pandemic levels - from 885 in 2019 to a high of 1441 in 2021. In fact, the number of opioid-related fatalities for Chicagoans exceed those due to traffic accidents and homicides combined.
"We knew we needed to do something big and bold to help stop the tragic trajectory of loss with a rapidly evolving and volatile drug supply that continues to be dominated by fentanyl and other highly potent synthetic opioids," said Dr. Jenny (Miao) Hua, Medical Director of Behavioral Health at CDPH. "Many issues played a factor in the significant decrease we are seeing with opioid overdoses, but the City can feel proud that our work with state, county and community partners played a role in preventing higher overdose numbers."
CDPH launched the Summer Opioid Response Incident Command Structure (SOR-ICS) from June 1, 2024 to August 31, 2024 with the mission of ensuring a sustained decline in fatal overdoses during the summer months, when opioid overdose numbers tend to seasonally increase. This response consisted of five main components:
"What we saw this summer is an amplification of harm reduction, education and treatment strategies in which the City has been highly engaged over the past couple of years," said Dr. Olusimbo (Simbo) Ige, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health. "Harnessing the power of state, county and community partnership has made a difference. We pledge to keep up the fight year 'round - all of us are devoted to saving lives."
View the full opioid report on the City of Chicago website.
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