Substance Use and Misuse

None of the higher education institutions in Bloomington-Normal report having overdoses on campus, but health officials still encourage students to take advantage of prevention training and be prepared.

Illinois State University is trying to change the way people experience opioid overdose reversal training by deploying a virtual reality app to assist them. ISU and its partners also are hoping this will expand access in rural areas.

Chestnut Health Systems and Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington both received federal grants totaling $860,000 for mental health substance use prevention efforts.

McLean County’s new Family Treatment Court accepted its first client and received a $750,000 grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to fund operations.

The McLean County Health Department just installed its free Narcan dispenser, making it the second place in town to offer a vending-style option for the opioid overdose reversal drug.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and NASCAR Foundation are supporting Central Illinois mental health efforts through a $30,000 grant to the McLean County for Center Services, which was announced on Oct. 10 — World Mental Health Day 2024.

Meetings for the Behavioral Health Coordinating Council — a newly independent body that convenes area health and social service experts with government officials to discuss community behavioral health efforts in McLean County — are going private for the first time in the group’s history. Members say it should improve dialogue and get better results.

Recognizing the role art can play in recovery from addiction and as a nod to National Recovery Month, staff at A New Horizon community recovery center in downtown Bloomington hosted an art show Thursday night, featuring a small showcase of staff and client art.

The newly formed Mental Health and Public Safety Fund Advisory Council — named after the fund Bloomington and Normal shared sales tax dollars create — had its first meeting on Monday, when members approved $1.5 million for new behavioral health initiatives in 2025.

The Behavioral Health Coordinating Council narrowed its scope for 2024-2025, identifying five key areas of improvement. In short, they are to educate on area resources, advance services and access for vulnerable populations, increase safe, temporary shelter, expand the behavioral health workforce and explore opportunities to share health data across service providers.