PROGRAM SINCE 2018.

THIS COMES AS CHICAGO IS NOW LOSING MORE PEOPLE TO OPIOIDS, THEN HOMICIDE AND IS COOK COUNTY SET A RECORD FOR OPIOID DEATHS LAST YEAR WITH 2000 PRELIMINARY NUMBERS FROM THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE SHOW.

THE COUNTY IS ON PACE TO SURPASS THAT AND SET A NEW TRAGIC RECORD THIS YEAR.

WHY THE SPIKE NOW AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT HERE WITH THEIR THOUGHTS ON WHAT WORKS AND DOESN'T IN COMBATING THE OPIOID CRISIS ARE NICK ROADIE CHIEF OF THE CHICAGO HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREA.

DAN, LET'S TAKE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HAYMARKET SAINT OR A SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT FACILITY.

AND JAMES STEWART, A FORMER CLIENT AT HAYMARKET CENTER.

NOW, CASE MANAGER IN THEIR ADDICTION PROGRAM.

WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO CHICAGO TONIGHT OF TALK TO BEFORE ON THIS ISSUE, STARTING WITH UNICA IN YOUR ROLE, YOU KIND OF OVERSEE ALL THE FEDERAL AND LOCAL EFFORTS TO COMBAT THE DRUGS AND DRUG TRAFFICKING.

SO THIS DIVERSION PROGRAM WE'RE TALKING ABOUT US TO MENTAL AND STARTING THIS.

IT'S EXPANDED SINCE ITS START AS A WORKING.

WELL, OBVIOUSLY, BY THE TESTIMONY YOU HEARD THAT IT'S WORKING FOR SOME IT'S WORKING FOR A MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT GO INTO >> YOU KNOW, ITS TO ITS TARGETED TOWARDS PEOPLE WHO USUALLY I'M GET ARRESTED FOR AN ANCILLARY CRIME.

NOT 4 ACTUALLY LAW ENFORCEMENT DOESN'T TARGET USERS FOR DRUG POSSESSION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WELL, YEAH, I MEAN, USUALLY THEY'RE ARRESTED FOR ANCILLARY CRIME AND IS FOUND TO HAVE DRUGS ON THEM.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE TARGET DRUG TRAFFICKERS.

OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT SET OF RULES AND THAT WE FOLLOW.

BUT AND THEY'RE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A PROGRAM LIKE THIS.

I MEAN, THE HIGH LEVEL OFFENSES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXACTLY.

>> AGAIN, LESS THAN WE MENTION, ONLY 3% OF OFFENDERS.

OVERALL DEFENDERS CAN BE DIVERTED A PROGRAM LIKE THIS.

DO YOU BELIEVE THERE'S ROOM TO EXPAND THAT TO MORE PEOPLE, PERHAPS FOR HIGHER LEVEL DRUG OFFENSES BECAUSE YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR MORE TREATMENT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE ISSUE HERE IS IS THAT YOU HAVE YOU HAVE A SYSTEM OF CARE THAT'S NEVER BEEN EXPANDED AND THAT'S TREATMENT.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE REST OF VERSION PROGRAMS, IT'S AN OUTSTANDING PROGRAM TO HAVE.

BUT YOU'VE GOT TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE TREATMENT PROVIDERS TO RECEIVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

SO WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE PREDICTORS OF SUCCESS IN JAIL DIVERSION PROGRAMS THAT IS CAN YOU ADDRESS ANY PREVIOUS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE?

CAN YOU SOME ZOOS TO SEE SHOE AND CAN YOU ADDRESS ANY OTHER KIND OF ISSUES RELATIVE TO POVERTY?

SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE PROGRAMS AND EXPAND TREATMENT TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES DIRECTLY, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME.

IT'S NOT JUST THE DRUG ISSUE.

IT'S ALL THE ISSUES THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THAT.

AS YOU MENTIONED, JAMES, TO ARE YOU HAVE TOLD ME IN THE PAST YOU ARE OPIOIDS LIKE HEROIN FOR FOR A COUPLE OF DECADES.

WHAT WHAT LED YOU TO TURN THE CORNER?

WHAT WAS THE THING THAT GOT YOU TO KICK IT?

>> ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM.

THE NAME IN HAYMARKET THE DRUG COURT SYSTEM.

IT WAS BASICALLY LIKE A CHOICE.

NEED TO.

EXCEPT TREATMENT.

TAKING A CHANCE THAT ROUTE AND ACCEPT A TREATMENT.

WE STARTED OUT TO BE THE BEST THING I COULD IT.

UNDER THE ARE HELPING OTHERS.

YES, I AND THAT'S GOT TO BE VERY GRATIFYING.

SO BROUGHT UP THE FACT THAT ACCORDING TO PRELIMINARY NUMBERS FROM THE EMMYS OFFICE.

>> A COOK COUNTY COULD SEE A RECORD AMOUNT OF OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS THIS YEAR.

HERE'S HERE'S THE RISE IN FENTANYL-RELATED OVERDOSE DEATHS LAST YEAR SET A RECORD AT 18.

25.

THAT'S 90% OF ALL THE OPIOID S FENTANYL.

LOOK AT THAT ASTRONOMICAL RISE OF FROM 2015.

NICK, WHAT'S BEHIND THIS?

>> WELL, YOU JUST POINTED TO IT ON THE GRAPH THERE'S A HUGE SHIFT ORGANIC OPIOIDS BEING REPLACED BY SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS THAT ARE MUCH MORE POWERFUL AND MUCH MORE DEADLY.

A WIN-WIN FOR DRUG TRAFFICKERS BECAUSE FENTANYL IS IS PRODUCED IN A LAB IS EASY TO MAKE IT OFF THE WAY FOR A GROWING SEASON AND THEIR PROFIT MARGIN IS IS 100 FOLD COMPARED TO WHAT IT WOULD BE.

I'M SELLING REGULAR HEROIN.

IN FACT, WE'RE FINDING NOW THAT PRETTY MUCH FENTANYL IS COMPLETELY IN ALMOST EVERY ASPECT OF THE DRUG SUPPLY.

WE'RE OVERDOSES GO UP.

IT STARTED AS A GRAPH SHOWED THE 2015 ACTUALLY STARTED ABOUT 2013.

WE SEE THE RISE STARTING TO GO UP AND THE OTHER ASPECT THAT'S REALLY AFFECTING KIDS IS THE COUNTERFEIT PILLS, WHICH IS A HUGE PROBLEM.

AND SO IT'S FENTANYL THAT'S BEING FOUND IN ALMOST ANY POSSIBLE CONCEIVABLE DRUG.

IF SOMEONE IS BUYING ILLICITLY ON THE STREET.

>> DAN, LET'S SAY HOW DOES THAT COMPLICATE TREATMENT FOR THIS?

IT DOESN'T REALLY COMPLICATE TREATMENT NECESSARILY AS LONG AS YOU HAVE AN AGENCY OR PROGRAM THAT'S COMPREHENSIVE IN NATURE.

AND THAT IS ADDRESSING ALL THE CONDITIONS IN INDIVIDUAL PRESENTS WITH.

>> RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A LOT OF PRIMARY MEDICAL CONDITIONS ARE COMPLICATING DRUGS OF CHOICE.

SO THAT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE THAT YOU HAVE FOR TREATMENT PROVIDERS.

BUT BUT HERE'S HERE'S INTERESTING PIECE HERE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE EPIDEMIC OVER TIME OVER THE LAST 10, 20 YEARS.

WE'VE NEVER TREATED SUMS.

USE DISORDERS IS A PRIMARY CARE CONDITION.

WE'VE NEVER TREATED IT AS A CHRONIC RELAPSING CONDITION UNTIL WE DO.

YOU'RE GOING TO START BEGINNING TO SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENT DRUGS, REEMERGE.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAD COCAINE 20 YEARS AGO.

YOU HAD METHAMPHETAMINE 10 YEARS AGO.

SO RIGHT NOW ON THE DIFFERENT COASTS, YOU HAVE METHAMPHETAMINE IS MAJOR DRUG OF CHOICE.

SO WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE THE TIME RIGHT NOW TO START TREATING SEVEN'S USE DISORDERS AS A PRIMARY CARE IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE DRUG THE OVERDOSES ARE STILL GOING TO HAPPEN UNTIL THERE'S MORE OF A MEDICAL ATTENTION ON THIS.

>> JAMES DID YOU ENCOUNTER FENTANYL ON THE STREET WHEN WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO BUY DRUGS JUST DO IT.

AND WHAT WAS THE EFFECT OF THAT WOULD WOULD THAT DO TO A 10 TIMES?

>> HEAR ONE THE WITHDRAWALS ON MAN.

IT VERY THEY'RE VERY SEVERE WHEN WE SEE THE AMOUNT OF OVERDOSE DEATHS SETTING RECORDS.

NOW WHEN YOU THINK IT'S IT'S A RECORD RIGHT NOW.

>> IT'S CHEAP.

AND VERY ACCESSIBLE TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO THE STREETS AND THIS IS CHEAPER.

FOREMAN IS IS MORE WIDESPREAD.

IT WAS WE TALKED ABOUT FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH STANDPOINT THE WAY TO COMBAT THIS.

WHAT ABOUT FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDPOINT?

HOW DO YOU COMBAT?

>> THE RISING NUMBER OF FENTANYL ON THE STREET AND THEN THIS NEW DRUG, THIS ANIMAL DRUG XYLAZINE, WHICH IS ALSO VERY DEADLY.

YEAH.

AS JAMES MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A SAYING WE USE IS OVERWHELMING SUPPLY DRIVES DEMAND.

>> AND A LOT OF THE SITUATIONS.

SO WE ATTACK IT FROM EVERY POSSIBLE OUR WAY WE 360 DEGREE APPROACH.

WE'RE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN THE SUPPLY.

STOP AS MUCH AS THE SUPPLY AS POSSIBLE.

ON THE BACK END FROM THE HEIGHT OF PROGRAM UNDER THE OFFICE NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY, WE'RE TRYING TO WORK ON TREATMENT AND PREVENTION PROJECTS.

WE UNDERSTOOD CA GO HIGHER.

WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT WORKS WITH CANNED OR HELP THAT GOES INTO THE SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS PREVENTION TO THE CHILDREN.

IT'S NOT A DEER PROGRAM.

IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

IT WAS DEVELOPED BY NEUROSCIENTIST, EDUCATORS AND TREATMENT PROVIDERS.

WE THE COOK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE GET THEIR TREATMENT RESPONSE.

TEAM THAT GOES OUT HIM AND GOES INTO THE STREET WORKS WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING AN ISSUE, HELPS THEM GET INTO TREATMENT AS WELL AS DOES A LEAVE BEHIND PROGRAM WITH NARCAN AND OTHER VALUABLE INFORMATION THAT THEY CAN USE TO GET HELP.

AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, WE WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN STARTING WHAT IS NOW THE CITYWIDE IN PROBABLY THE BIGGEST DIVERSION IN TREATMENT PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY, IN THE SEDITION ON THOSE COUNSELORS THAT WE MENTIONED, THAT STORY THERE IN 25 POLICE DISTRICTS.

NOW THEY STARTED OFF.

AND ONLY 2, I THERE'S SOME SETTLEMENT MONEY.

>> AIMED AT COMBATING THIS AND YOUR ORGANIZATION HAYMARKET, DAN, IT GOT THIS DISTINCTION THAT CAN GET FEDERAL MONEY IS THERE IS ENOUGH MONEY COMING INTO TREAT THIS AS A HEALTH CONDITION IS AS YOU WOULD LIKE, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH BUT IT DECIDES NOT ENOUGH MONEY.

THERE IS NOT.

>> A LENS TO LOOK THROUGH AND SOME MEDICAL APPROACH.

THAT'S WHY MARKETS NRA THING STANDS OUT IN CHICAGO BECAUSE WE WE ACTUALLY ADDRESS THAT PRIMARY CARE CONDITION THAT THEY PRESENT WITH.

BUT WHAT YOU NEED NOW IS YOU ACTUALLY NEED TREATMENT ON DEMAND.

NOT INDIVIDUAL.

WHEN THEY WALK IN, THEY NEED TO GET SERVICES IMMEDIATELY SENT NOT EVEN WAITING TILL THEY GET ARRESTED NIGHT.

YOU'VE GOT TO GET FAR ENOUGH UPSTREAM.

SO THIS IS WHAT WE KNOW.

WE KNOW THAT A LONGER PERSONS INVOLVED IN SOME ORDERS THE PRODUCT THAT THE ASPECT THAT THEY WILL BE INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS VERY, VERY HIGH.

WE HAVE TO GET WE HAVE TO GET ENOUGH UPSTREAM TO GIVE PEOPLE THE DIFFERENT DOSAGES OF TREATMENT SO THEY DON'T END TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A VERY POOR DISCUSSION.

WE