JEFFERSON PARK – Assemblywoman Lindsey LaPointe hopes to help people with substance use disorders find a path to recovery by organizing a series of informational events in Jefferson Park.

The first pop-up event on substance use disorders took place on July 25 at the Jefferson Park Transit Center. Two more pop-ups will take place on Tuesday and September 19. Both events will be held from 10 a.m. to noon.

The goal of the educational series is to “really meet people where they are” and show them the care options available, LaPointe said.

“We thought that putting a face to treatment and recovery would be a good way to give people access to resources,” says LaPointe, who has a background in human services and social work.

“It’s very clear from my work on the Northwest Side and from what we see on Facebook that people don’t know who to turn to when they need help or when their family members need help.”

The pop-ups include tables with representatives from Haymarket, Gateway, Healthcare Alternative Systems, Chicago Behavioral Hospital, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, Chicago Recovery Alliance, Illinois Harm Reduction and Recovery Coalition and Rosecrance.

The treatment and rehabilitation providers at the pop-ups specialize in a wide range of care. Some offer medical detoxification programs, others run recovery support groups and some distribute harm reduction supplies like Narcan, LaPointe said.

LaPointe and her team discussed hosting an information session on substance abuse in the spring. The need for more rehabilitation resources on the Far Northwest Side has long been clear, LaPointe said.

Overdose deaths in Cook County have increased from 647 in 2015 to over 2,000 in 2022. According to 2021 city data, emergency medical services responded to 54 opioid-related overdoses in Portage Park and 37 in Jefferson Park.

“Whether they know it or not, everyone knows someone who struggles with substance abuse,” LaPointe said.

LaPointe hopes the educational events will reduce the stigma associated with seeking treatment. She also wants more people to know that treatment is covered by insurance.

“We wanted to make these resources available to the community rather than hiding them behind a website,” LaPointe said. “We wanted to show the community that substance abuse problems are health problems.”

For those who can’t attend the upcoming pop-ups, the Illinois Helpline is a great place to find resources, LaPointe said. The helpline can be reached by phone at 833-234-6343 or by text. HELP to 833234.

The pop-ups can also be educational for community members who simply want to learn more or help others find resources, LaPointe said.

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