Substance Use Initiative Reports Early 2025 Overdose Data, Outreach Efforts

Will County has recorded eight fatal overdoses and seven overdose reversals so far in 2025, according to data presented to the county health committee on Wednesday.

Connie Dewal, program manager for the Will County Substance Use Initiatives, provided an update on overdose statistics and community outreach efforts during the committee meeting. Dewal noted that more comprehensive comparison data between multiple years will be presented next month.

“I’m going to give a better comparison, but we are at eight overdose deaths for 2025,” Dewal said, adding that the county’s monthly distribution of Narcan overdose-reversal kits continues at a rate of 500-600 boxes per month.

The county’s substance use team has expanded its community presence through partnerships with local food pantries and resource centers. Dewal highlighted regular outreach at Salvation Army, St. John Judson Church, Riverwalk, and the Monee senior luncheon among other locations.

“Food pantries have been our biggest supporters because that’s a really good way to get into our community to meet people,” Dewal explained.

The presentation included recognition of volunteer Aaron Dwire, who joined the county’s substance use team after losing her son to an accidental overdose in California last year. Dwire has been instrumental in expanding outreach in Plainfield, according to Dewal.

“She reached out to me and said, ‘How can I be involved? I want to give back,'” Dewal said. During a recent event in Monee for Black Balloon Day, which raises awareness of overdose deaths, Dwire helped distribute 62 Narcan kits.

The county has also strengthened its substance use treatment program with the addition of John Moss, a counselor who previously managed treatment program services at the Grundy County Health Department.

A peer recovery support program, which pairs individuals in treatment with peers who have lived experience with substance use disorders, has shown success in helping clients navigate complex systems. Dewal shared a case where a peer specialist helped a client reinstate Social Security benefits that had been terminated after his mother, who had been his payee, passed away.

“Without the help from peer support, without the help from Zenya walking him through those steps, he would have been lost in the shuffle,” Dewal said.

Committee member Miller inquired about potential evening presentations for families dealing with teenage substance use, after attending a virtual meeting hosted by the New Lenox Safe Community Coalition.

“It allows that comfort for the parents,” Miller said, suggesting the county consider similar virtual events. “Nobody is safe from homelessness, right? Especially our kids.”

Dewal expressed interest in developing such programming, noting that while the department provides training, it is typically at the invitation of other organizations.

“It would be nice to collaborate and do our own and bring people into us,” she said.

The department is also preparing to distribute pregnancy and postpartum resource bags in mid-April to various locations throughout the county.