Innovative Programs for Substance Abuse Prevention and Access to Treatment

Lake County, Illinois' judicial system has a mission to prevent opioid abuse, addiction, overdose and death. Their vision is to be a leader and example in addressing all facets of the opioid epidemic to improve the health and safety of the community. Listen in to this opiate recovery support group as they discuss two innovative ideas for prevention and treatment.

Discussion Guide:

Text-A-Tip is a crisis hotline for adolescents that is anonymous and is supported by teams of licensed mental health counselors. If you had access to a hotline when you were a teen, would it have prevented your substance abuse?

'A Way Out' Program is designed to get people who abuse substances into treatment. No criminal charges will be filed for people who may be in possession of narcotics or paraphernalia if they are seeking help. Would you seek help from this law enforcement program in order to get treatment?

What are barriers to these programs?

Do you trust police enough to turn to them for help?

Supplemental Reading:

Lake County, IL State's Attorney's Office website, Text-A-Tip, http://www.lakecountyil.gov/3437/Text-A-Tip

Lake County, IL State's Attorney's Office website, A Way Out, http://www.lakecountyil.gov/3784/A-Way-Out-Lake-County