Last week, in honor of International Overdose Awareness Day, the West Side Heroin Task Force (WSHTF), spearheaded by Representative La Shawn K. Ford, (8th), Loretto Hospital, and the Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy at Roosevelt University, held its first press conference at the James R. Thompson Center to announce its inauguration as well as to release supporting research conducted by Roosevelt University titled, “Hidden in Plain Sight: Heroin’s Impact on Chicago’s West Side, which examines heroin’s impact on Chicago’s West Side. “The release of Kathleen Kane-Willis’ (Roosevelt University) report sends a strong message that Public Act 99-0480, Illinois’ Heroin Crisis Act must take priority during budget talks to help save lives in Illinois,” said Rep. La Shawn K. Ford. Roosevelt’s study found that the West Side has not been spared by the health, legal or fatal ramifications of the heroin crisis. According to the report, nearly 1 in 4 hospitalizations for heroin occurred on the West Side, which make up 35 percent of the total heroin or opioid hospitalizations in Chicago. The report also unveils unprecedented arrest rates for heroin possession, with the highest arrests in East and West Garfield Park on the West Side. With regard to heroin overdose-related deaths, the mortality rate in Chicago is much higher than any other part of the region in Illinois. Moreover, African-Americans die at higher rates from heroin overdose than whites across the state.

Speakers included: Loretto Hospital’s CEO, Dr. Sonia Mehta; Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (8th); Kathie Kane-Willis, director of the Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy at Roosevelt University; Jamelia Hand, overdose prevention advocate; Dr. Dan Lustig, vice president of clinical services, Haymarket Center; Jacqui Colyer, regional administrator, Illinois Department of Children & Family Services; Chelsea Laliberte, executive director, Live4Lali, Inc.; George Williams, vice president, community and government affairs at Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC); Marianne Schiavone, chairperson, West Suburban Hospital; Doris Davenport, president, Center of Community Connections; and, Camille Y. Lilly, vice president of external affairs and development, Loretto Hospital. A copy of Roosevelt University’s study, “Hidden in Plain Sight: Heroin’s Impact on Chicago’s West Side, is available on Roosevelt University’s website at www.roosevelt.edu.