A Dose of Truth | Get Support and Reduce Risks of Opioids

Illinois Helpline

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 who can guide you to treatment options that are best for you.

Medication-Assisted Recovery

Focus on recovery from your opioid use disorder with a type of treatment that uses medication to reduce opioid cravings and ease withdrawal symptoms. See why Medication-Assisted Recovery (MAR) is 2x as effective as other methods.¹⁹

More Illinois Information for Prevention and Recovery

The Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Behavioral Health & Recovery(IDHS DBHR) is working to reduce the impact of the opioid epidemic on the state of Illinois. For additional resources and local information, please visit their resource page.

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.

Overdose & Recovery Community Resources

Explore programs, partnerships, and resources across Illinois designed to prevent overdose and strengthen community care — and find the tools you need to make a local impact.

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Fentanyl Drug Fact Sheet. (n.d.). Drug Enforcement Administration. Retrieved April 22, 2026, from https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/fentanyl
Opioid dependence can happen after just 5 days. https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/substance-use/opioid-dependence-can-happen-after-just-5-days
SUDORS Dashboard: Fatal Drug Overdose Data. (2024). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved April 22, 2026, from https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/data-research/facts-stats/sudors-dashboard-fatal-overdose-data.html
The Opioid Crisis in Illinois: Data and the State's Response. (n.d.). Illinois Department of Human Services. Retrieved April 22, 2026, from https://www.dhs.state.il.us/OneNetLibrary/27896/documents/SUPR_Opioid_State_Response_2017.pdf
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
The Growing Threat of Xylazine and its Mixture with Illicit Drugs. (2022, October). U.S. Department of Justice: Drug Enforcement Administration. Retrieved April 22, 2026, from https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2022-12/The%20Growing%20Threat%20of%20Xylazine%20and%20its%20Mixture%20with%20Illicit%20Drugs.pdf
Increasing Nitazene and Orphine Analogues (Synthetic Opioids) and the Implications for the Use of Test Strips. (2026, February 25). UNODC Laboratory and Scientific Service. Retrieved April 22, 2026, from https://www.unodc.org/LSS/Announcement/Details/e69b2ff5-5b91-4eea-8e1f-802ca7ad5080
US National Library of Medicine: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000013.htm#:~:text=Time%20is%20
Recognizing and Responding to an Opioid Overdose. (n.d.). Illinois Department of Human Services. Retrieved April 22, 2026, from https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=95360
Naloxone Drug Facts. (n.d.). National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institutes of Health; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved April 22, 2026, from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/naloxone
The Risks and Consequences of Polysubstance Use (Podcast Transcript). (2023, August 20). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved April 22, 2026, from https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-resources/search/transcripts/CDC-Podcast-The-Risks-and-Consequences-of-Polysubstance-Use_audio-transcript.html
BLUE Method of identifying an overdose https://www.saveliveskenosha.org/recognize-the-signssave-a-life/
About Prescription Opioids. (2025, June 10). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved April 22, 2026, from https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/about/prescription-opioids.html
Shah, A., Hayes, C. J., & Martin, B. C. (2017, March 17). Characteristics of Initial Prescription Episodes and Likelihood of Long-Term Opioid Use — United States, 2006–2015. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved April 24, 2026, from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6610a1.htm?s_cid=mm6610a1_w