In just six-months, members of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office saved the lives of 16 people from heroin overdoses. This number already surpasses the total number of lives saved in 2015 (11) and 2016 (13).

Sheriff Mark Curran first addressed this issue in 2011 and implemented both educational and enforcement strategies to address the crisis. In addition, the Sheriff’s Office partnered with community leaders addressing addiction, treatment, housing, and hunger - those efforts continue today.

In 2014, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office led the charge, partnering with the Lake County Health Department, and trained all Sheriff’s Office enforcement personnel in the administration of Naloxone. Nearly 100 doses of Naloxone were administered by Sheriff’s Office personnel since then.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Gang Task Force continues making major strides in both enforcement and education. Gang Task Force members are arresting numerous heroin dealers operating throughout Lake County. In fact, in the past 12-months, the Gang Task Force seized over 1,450 grams of heroin. The Gang Task Force provides educational presentations to school students, school staff, and community groups throughout Lake County. Over 30 presentations were provided to Lake County organizations in the past 12-months.

The Lake County Sheriff’s School Safety Team works with Lake County schools to provide safety tips for school students, faculty, and parents. The Sheriff’s Community Service Section provides education to grade school and middle school students encouraging children to make good choices. Requests for educational programming at the grade school level continues to rise.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office partnered with the Lake County Health Department in an effort to better understand drug abusers and the struggle many face with addiction. Sheriff Curran directed the Lake County Sheriff’s Training Division to disseminate statistics to all personnel. This training prepares all personnel in the proper response to those suffering with addiction.

This summer, we are asking you to join us in the fight against opioid addiction with the following three opportunities:

• If you know someone who is addicted to opioids, find help here: http://www.lakecountyil.gov/1919/Get-Help
• If you know someone who is dealing opioids or other drugs, drop us a tip here: https://www.lakecountyil.gov/FormCenter/Sheriffs-Office-8/Report-a-Crime-Tip-125
• If you have unused or expired prescription drugs in your medicine cabinet, please drop them off at any of these locations: http://www.lakecountyil.gov/581/Prescription-Drug-Disposal-Box-Program

Sheriff Mark Curran said, “I recognize we are facing a heroin epidemic and we cannot arrest our way out of it. The Sheriff’s Office continues making strides to address the epidemic through enforcement, education, and awareness programming. Additionally, we are training all Sheriff’s Office personnel on countywide statistics, so our staff has a broader view on the topic of addiction. It’s important we as a community continue working together, to ensure those struggling with addiction get needed help, while continuing to hold drug dealers accountable.”