New Council To Tackle Mental Health, Substance Use In DuPage County

DUPAGE COUNTY, IL — Substance use disorder and mental health will be the main focus of a new council that was recently formed in DuPage County. Formed via a partnership between DuPage County Board and DuPage County Health Department, the DuPage Council on Strengthening the System for Mental Health and Substance Use Care (DCSS) will offer support and services for those in need, while also working to increase awareness and reduce stigma.

The DCSS council is made up of

• Sen. Karina Villa
• Rep. Terra Costa Howard
• County Board Member Paula Deacon Garcia
• County Board Member Greg Schwarze
• County Board Member Sam Tornatore
• DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin
• DuPage County Coroner Dr. Richard Jorgensen
• Judge Paul A. Marchese
• DuPage County Public Defender Jeff York
• DuPage County Fire Chief Keith Krestan
• Retired Lombard Chief Roy Newton
• Sheryl Bates
• Jarret Burton
• Karyn Charvat
• Dr. Natasha Dolgin
• Jeff Geiger·
• Jennifer Hess
• Geri Kerger
• Felicia Miceli
• Cara Siebert
• Dr. Daniel Sullivan

“As I envisioned an organization that would help to expand access to quality mental health services in DuPage County, it made sense to also include our efforts to reduce substance use disorder in our community," DuPage County Board Chair Deborah Conroy said in a statement.

Conroy added, "We know that very often, these two struggles are linked. I believe this Council will provide expertise and desperately needed resources for those seeking behavioral health care, those fighting addiction, and their families, who so often feel powerless and don’t know where to turn."

Speaking onto the annual number of overdoses in DuPage County, Coroner Richard Jorgensen wrote in his 2022 overdose statistics report in April, "The epidemic of opioid and other legal and illegal drugs continues to ravage our county." He added, "Over the past few years there has been a major shift in the types and number of drugs found in blood of the deceased."

DuPage County Board has pledged $250,000 a year to help the council's initiatives. Council meetings are slated to take place bimonthly.