Best of: Harm reduction efforts in Illinois help keep people who use substances safe — and alive
Left: Joe Trotter with the Champaign-Urbana Public Health Dept., right: Chris Schaffner with the Jolt Foundation Illinois Public Media, WCBU Public Radio
If you or someone you know is suffering from a substance use disorder, contact the Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances by calling 1-833-2FINDHELP (1-833-234-6343), texting "HELP" to 833234, or visiting: www.helplineIL.org.
All week we are focused on the opioid and fentanyl overdose crisis in Illinois. This segment is about harm reduction. What does it mean? Why is it important? And what do efforts at harm reduction look like in different parts of the state?
GUESTS:
Joe Trotter
Harm Reduction Program Coordinator, Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
Chris Schaffner
Executive Director, Jolt, a nonprofit organization based in Peoria
A version of this conversation originally aired on January 9, 2024.