Annual 5K Helps Increase Naloxone Distribution Across Lake County

LAKE VILLA, IL — In an effort to equip more families with Naloxone — the anti-overdose drug credited with saving 350 people's lives from potentially fatal overdoses in Lake County since 2014 — the Gateway Foundation in Lake Villa will host its 4th Annual One Stride At A Time 5K on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Hastings Lake's Lake County Preserve, according to a release sent to Patch. Proceeds from the event support Lake County Opioid Initiative and Gateway’s Naloxone Distribution Program, as the U.S. Surgeon General advises Americans to carry Naloxone due to the ongoing opioid epidemic, according to the release. In the program, Naloxone is distributed after an overview on how to use it to save loved ones, Gateway added, in the release.

On Saturday, the adult run will kick off at 8:30 a.m. and the youth 1K begins at 9:30 a.m. Those interested in participating may register online at gatewayfoundation.org/5k. Proceeds also support the Lake County Opioid Initiative.

The Gateway Foundation is the country's largest nonprofit treatment provider specializing in substance use disorder treatment of adults, adolescents, and those diagnosed with co-occurring mental health disorders. For more than 50 years, Gateway Foundation's professional clinicians help thousands of individuals successfully complete treatment by developing personalized plans treating the underlying causes of substance abuse, according to the foundation.

More:

• Prescription Drug Takeback Day: Lake County Drop Off Locations
• Lake County Opioid Initiative Expands 'A Way Out' Program

“I never imagined myself participating in a 5K,” Hector, a Gateway Foundation alumni, and 5K participant said, in the release. “I’m not a super fit guy. But, at this stage in my recovery, it feels good to finally be a part of something positive. It’s my hope that my participation will help encourage others like myself.”

Now — almost two-years sober — Hector will join more than 200 runners at the starting line, according to the foundation.

More information: One Stride at a Time 5K