Media Contact:
McHenry County Department of Health
Nick Kubiak, Community Information Coordinator
2/20/2024

Increase in Suspected Overdose Deaths Reported in McHenry County

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL - The McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) is informing McHenry County residents of an increase in suspected overdose deaths. While these deaths are currently suspected and not confirmed as opioid-related, the majority of McHenry County's overdose fatalities involve opioids, often with fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, as reported by the McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition (SAC). Fentanyl is highly lethal and continues to be found in various illicit drugs in the county, including counterfeit pills, even those sold as 'legitimate prescription medications' obtained unlawfully.

The MCDH and its partners want residents to remain safe and ensure they have the supplies they need. Fentanyl test strips, used to detect fentanyl in all type of drugs, can help prevent an overdose, while Narcan can help reverse an overdose. Fentanyl test strips and Narcan are available for free at the following locations in McHenry County: 

McHenry County Department of Health

• Supplies are available for walk-ins during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm). No identification is required. For more information, please call (815) 334-4500.
  • Woodstock: 2200 N. Seminary Avenue, Building A
  • Crystal Lake: 100 N. Virginia Street
• Supplies are also available for free at MCDH Narcan vending machines located at The Other Side Café and Sober Bar in Crystal Lake, McHenry County College (Cafeteria) in Crystal Lake, Community Health Partnership in Harvard, and Family Center of McHenry County in McHenry.

Live4Lali

• Supplies for local delivery are available by visiting bit.ly/l4lsupplies or by calling or texting (224) 297-4393.
• Supplies are also available at various events across McHenry County in February
  • Friday, February 23 | Community Resource Days at Willow Creek Church in Crystal Lake (weekly)
  • Thursday, February 29 | Marengo Food Pantry · 4pm-6pm (last Thursday of every month)
  • Thursday, February 29 | Hebron Food Pantry · 2pm-4pm (1^st and 3^rd Thursdays of every month)
  • Every Tuesday | Warp Corps in Woodstock · 11am-2pm
  • 3^rd and 4^th Tuesdays of every month | Harvard Food Pantry · 9:30am-11:30am & 3pm-5pm

Warp Corps

• Supplies are available seven days a week for walk-ins from 10am-6pm at 114 N. Benton Street in Woodstock. For more information, please call (815) 985-6256.
• Supplies are also available at various events across McHenry County in February
  • Thursday, February 22 | Woodstock Public Library · 1pm-3pm
  • Friday, February 23 | Community Resource Days at Willow Creek Church in Crystal Lake (weekly)

The Break Crystal Lake Teen Center

• Please call (815)575-9358 to inquire about available supplies.

The Other Side Café & Sober Bar

• Supplies are available Monday-Thursday from 8am-9pm, as well as Friday and Saturday from 8am-10pm, at 135 Beardsley Street in Crystal Lake. For more information, please call (799) 220-8943.

A Way Out – McHenry County offers substance use assessment on a daily basis from 8am-11pm to anyone in McHenry County that wishes to seek recovery. If you are unable to pay for treatment due to lack of insurance or financial resources, you will not be turned away. A Way Out works with providers that accept several different insurance plans and accommodate those without insurance. For support and navigation to treatment, please visit their website, call (815) 347-0385, or email INFO@NDARS.ORG. 

###