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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE VILLAGE OF ELK GROVE VILLAGE FOR ITS PROGRAM COMBATTING THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC
WHEREAS, twenty-six residents and visitors of the Village of Elk Grove have died due to opioid-related causes in the last four years; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Craig Johnson, a former wrestling coach, saw the effects of the crisis on one of his athletes; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Village Officials created the Elk Grove Village Cares program in June 2018 to be a comprehensive approach to battling the opioid epidemic; and
WHEREAS, Elk Grove Village Cares has police officers be the gateway to treatment for those seeking help; and
WHEREAS, Elk Grove Village has made the overdose-reversing medication naloxone available in public places and covers the cost of treatment for uninsured patients; and
WHEREAS, Elk Grove Village Cares was initially created for opioid-related treatment but welcomes those who struggle with other substances such as alcohol; and
WHEREAS, local business owner Tom Walter has committed to employing people who have been through the program once treatment is completed; and
WHEREAS, people who have failed out of treatment or relapsed are always welcomed back; and
WHEREAS, given the success of this program, Elk Grove Village has received both state and federal grants totaling nearly $400,000 to continue and expand the program; and
WHEREAS, Elk Grove Village has seen no fatal overdoses within its limits since the creation of Elk Grove Village Cares; and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Board of the Cook County Commissioner would like to recognize the Village of Elk Grove Village for its dedicated efforts to combat the opioid epidemic and make treatment easily accessible to those struggling with addiction; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that suitable copies of this resolution are presented to the Village of Elk Grove Village, Mayor Craig Johnson, and Tom Walter.
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