While Cook County recorded a 31% decline in overdose deaths in 2024, the crisis remains a defining public health hurdle. Advocates point to a stark reality: nearly 80% of Illinois residents with a substance use disorder still lack access to necessary care. Shatterproof CEO Pam Jenkins emphasized that the event serves as both a memorial for those lost and a rallying point for policy reform to ensure evidence-based treatment becomes the standard rather than the exception.
Chicago to Host 7th Annual Shatterproof Walk to End Addiction
With more than 1,300 lives lost to overdose in Cook County last year, hundreds of families and advocates will gather at Lincoln Park on September 26 for the 7th Annual Shatterproof Walk to End Addiction, a national effort aiming to bridge the gap in substance use treatment and combat persistent public stigma.
Deep-seated social barriers continue to complicate recovery efforts across the state. Data from the 2024 Illinois Addiction Stigma Index reveals that only one in four adults views addiction as a chronic medical condition, and comfort levels regarding those in recovery drop sharply when personal relationships are involved. The Chicago event, emceed by CBS2’s Dorothy Tucker, will feature a resource village and community sessions designed to provide families with the tools to navigate a complex healthcare landscape.
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