Board works with law enforcement to combat heroin epidemic

Board works with law enforcement to combat heroin epidemic

Wilmington officers receive training, others encouraged to participate

JOLIET, IL- The Will County Board has encouraged coordination between the Will County Sheriff’s Department and local law enforcement agencies to provide valuable training to save those that have overdosed on heroin. As a result, officers with the Wilmington Police Department recently passed the training and learned how to administer Narcan, a drug that reverses the effects of an overdose.

“Heroin usage is a very serious issue affecting numerous Will County communities and devastating lives,” said board member Ragan Freitag (R-Wilmington). “We must do all we can to fight back and coordinate efforts to support our law enforcement agencies, and the recent training of police officers in my hometown of Wilmington is a fine example. We encourage all departments across the county to receive this training and equip officers to save lives.”

Freitag has seen firsthand the consequences of heroin overdoses when a good friend died during her first year of practicing law. She has also worked with clients recovering from drug addiction and gone on to graduate Will County’s successful Drug Court program.

“Will County has the resources and manpower to turn the tide of this epidemic,” said Freitag. “I applaud those working hard on a daily basis to raise awareness and help those struggling with addiction.”

The CDC has reported more people died from drug overdoses in the U.S. in 2014 than during any previous year on record, and heroin deaths have more than tripled over the past four years. Outside of Cook County, Will County had the most deaths from heroin in 2015 than any other Illinois county and experienced an estimated 50 percent increase compared to 2014.

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