Opioid task force to get $200K from DuPage County

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Our harm reduction program recently highlighted in a Daily Herald article: www.dailyherald.com/news/20211230/opioid-task-force-to-get-200k-from-dupage-county-where-such-overdoses-are-up-17 Steve StefaniSteve Stefani is a board member of Hope for Healing. Steve was inspired to start Hope for Healing with his family after the devastating loss of his twin brother Matt to an overdose. Since his brother’s death, Steve has worked hard to heal his own wounds and is inspired to help others who are suffering with addiction. He is a graduate from the University of Dayton with a degree in Political Science, concentrating on Human Rights, non-profit and NGO work, and international politics. In his free time Steve enjoys playing the drums,Read More →

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Hope for Healing was awarded a grant from the DuPage County Board and the HOPE Taskforce to provide harm reduction services in DuPage County from July 2021 to July 2022! Steve StefaniSteve Stefani is a board member of Hope for Healing. Steve was inspired to start Hope for Healing with his family after the devastating loss of his twin brother Matt to an overdose. Since his brother’s death, Steve has worked hard to heal his own wounds and is inspired to help others who are suffering with addiction. He is a graduate from the University of Dayton with a degree in Political Science, concentrating onRead More →

Recovery's Got Talent

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Join us and our partners, Live4Lali & Inspiration Outreach Foundation on Sunday, October 25th for our annual fundraiser, drive-in style! We’ll supply food, comedy and music… all from the comfort of your car! Enjoy the excitement of a show with a live audience, while maintaining social distancing with the immersive atmosphere of a drive-in theater! More details to come….. so stay tuned, mark your calendars, and get ready for a great night supporting our efforts to open minds, save lives, and heal hearts! Steve StefaniSteve Stefani is a board member of Hope for Healing. Steve was inspired to start Hope for Healing with his familyRead More →

Live 4 Lali, Mobile Outreach Truck

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Hi friends and family. We hope you are all staying safe and healthy! We just wanted to update you on what Hope for Healing has been up to during this time and inform you about things to come! We are glad to announce that the Harm Reduction Mobile Unit is back up and running in Waukegan and McHenry! The Mobile Outreach Project will start serving Schaumburg in 2021 and more locations in Cook and DuPage counties are in the works. Hope for Healing has taken a role of networking and outreach to stakeholders and communities in DuPage where we would like to start providing services.Read More →

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During this COVID-19 pandemic many of us are faced with challenging circumstances.  The stressors of worrying about getting sick, the wellbeing of loved ones, paying the bills, and making sure our kids are taken care of can weigh extremely heavy on all of us at times. Although this April is exceptional, April is always a tough month for me.  I lost my twin to an overdose on April 23 of 2015.  I am also just a head case in general.  Over the last decade of my life I’ve struggled with depression, anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Due to these issues andRead More →

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The COVID-19 pandemic is changing nearly every aspect of our lives.  This virus has created a unique set of challenges for those dealing with Substance Use Disorder.  For example, social isolation is necessary to flatten the curve and take pressure off of our medical system.  Unfortunately, social isolation has also been shown to increase the likelihood of relapse.  Additionally, substance use has increased in general as shelter-in-place orders have been made in almost every state.  People are trying to deal with their anxiety and boredom.  This means that some people may be developing a problematic habit for the first time, it also means that thoseRead More →

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Tomorrow, Monday 3/2/2020 is a big day for Hope for Healing.  It is the launch of the Mobile Outreach Unit.  We are so fortunate to be able to partner with Live4Lali and Inspiration Outreach Foundation to bring harm reduction services to McHenry, Lake, DuPage, and Northern Cook counties.  This is the largest and most impactful program Hope for Healing has participated in to date.  The unit will provide toiletries, non-perishable food items, beverages, clothing, and other basic essentials.  It will provide services including substance use treatment and recovery support, services, navigation, and referrals.  It will distribute products to prevent death and disease including Naloxone (theRead More →

Nurse at safe injection center

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Imagine that you have a brain disease. The disease causes you to inject a substance into your body. The injection might be occasional, or it could be daily, or even several times a day. Your brain is commanding you to do it. You wish you didn’t do this, but your volition has been hijacked. You are embarrassed about this task, so you try to do it in private. You try to find a hiding place where you can be alone and where no-one will see you. You know that there’s a chance that you’ll die from this task. The substance you purchased may be impureRead More →

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I was at a DuPage Health Department meeting recently where the Narcan program representatives reported that they performed 234 opioid reversals in the previous year. Said another way, the program saved lives 234 times. They showed a chart that summarized the locations of the rescues. While the majority of rescues were in houses and apartments, Twenty-two, or close to 10% were in workplaces. Our fellow employees are administering opioids in employee restrooms. With some research, I discovered that one third of all employees are impacted by Substance Use Disorder (SUD), either by having the disease themselves or by having loved ones with it. To-date, mostRead More →