A Dose of Truth | Get Support and Help to Reduce the Risks of Taking Opioids

What To Do If Someone Is Unconscious

Call 911 immediately for emergency responder support. Lay the person on their side in the recovery position until responders arrive. If you have it, use naloxone (Narcan®).

Strategies for Safer Use

Identify practical steps to better protect yourself and those around you. Find harm reduction tools and services here.

Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances

Get free, confidential help for you or someone you know who is using or struggling with substance use. The Illinois Helpline offers 24/7 support from trained specialists that can guide you to treatment options that are best for you.

What to Do with Leftover Pills

Holding onto leftover pills dramatically increases the likelihood that you or a loved one will misuse pills and can accidentally provide access to others. Learn how to safely dispose of leftover pills here.

More Illinois Information for Prevention and Recovery

The Illinois Department of Human Services Substance Use Prevention and Recovery (IDHS SUPR) is working to reduce the impact of the opioid epidemic on the state of Illinois. For additional resources and local information, please visit the IDHS SUPR’s resource page.

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Drug Interactions With New Synthetic Opioids https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6193107/
NCHS Data Brief, Number 329, November 2019. (2019, November). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db329_tables-508.pdf#page=4
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DEA issues warning over counterfeit prescription pills from Mexico. (2019, November 4). Drug Enforcement Administration. https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2019/11/04/dea-issues-warning-over-counterfeit-prescription-pills-mexico-0
Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs (ASPA). (2019, September 4). About the Epidemic. Health and Human Services. https://www.hhs.gov/opioids/about-the-epidemic/
Ahmad, F.B., Rossen, L.M., & Sutton, P. (2021) Provisional drug overdose death counts. [Data set]. National Center for Health Statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm
Mason, M., Arukumar, P., & Feinglass, J. (2021). The pandemic stay-at-home order and opioid-involved overdose fatalities. JAMA, 325(24), 2495-2496. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2021.6700
Pardo, B., Taylor, J., Caulkins, J. P., Kilmer, B., Reuter, P., & Stein, B. D. (2019). The Future of Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids. RAND Corporation. https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR3100/RR3117/RAND_RR3117.pdf
Illinois Fatal Crash Historic Data. (n.d.). Illinois Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 15, 2021, from https://apps.dot.illinois.gov/FatalCrash/historicsnapshot.html
DEA Bulletin: Fentanyl in Chicago â€" By the Numbers, DEA-CHI-BUL-001-20 OCTOBER 2019 https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2019-10/PRB%20FINAL%20-%20BUL-001-20%20Fentanyl%20in%20Chicago%20%E2%80%93%20By%20the%20Numbers_0.pdf
Counterfeit Pills Fact Sheet. (2021, May). Department of Justice/ Drug Enforcement Administration. https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2021-05/Counterfeit%20Pills%20fact%20SHEET-5-13-21-FINAL.pdf
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