FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 2026
CONTACT
DHS.Press@illinois.gov
CHICAGO – In two new proclamations, Governor JB Pritzker recognized August 31 as International Overdose Awareness Day and September as National Recovery Month in Illinois.
International Overdose Awareness Day acknowledges the impact of drug overdoses on individuals, families, and communities while highlighting ways to reduce drug overdose deaths. National Recovery Month celebrates people in recovery from behavioral health challenges and promotes evidence-based treatment and recovery practices. Throughout August and September, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and community partners will host events and activities across the state to raise awareness about drug overdose prevention and recovery from substance use and mental health conditions.
“As we remember the Illinoisans we have lost to overdose, we also honor the strength of people in recovery and the families and communities who support them,” said IDHS Secretary Dulce M. Quintero. “Every day across Illinois, people are working to save lives, reduce stigma, and make recovery possible. At IDHS, we are committed to partnering with communities to expand access to prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery services so people can get the support they need, when they need it.”
Honoring International Overdose Awareness Day
On August 31, community stakeholders will host events honoring and recognizing the Illinoisans who have died from a drug overdose and raising awareness about overdose prevention.
Events can be found throughout the state at Illinois – International Overdose Awareness Day.
By increasing access to lifesaving information and resources like naloxone, IDHS is joining with community partners to ensure people have the tools they need to prevent overdose deaths. Since the initial decline in overdose deaths in 2023, the downward trend has continued, indicating ongoing progress and reinforcing the importance of sustained efforts across the state. Despite recent progress in reducing total overdose deaths, there is still much work to be done to continue the decline and eliminate the disparities in fatal overdose deaths. In Illinois, non-Hispanic Black people are 3.4 times more likely to die from an opioid overdose than a non-Hispanic White person.
Celebrating National Recovery Month
Throughout September, IDHS will partner with providers to host public awareness activities, including trainings, speaking engagements, memorials, and online events.
IDHS calls upon buildings to light the Chicago skyline purple from September 8 – 14 to raise awareness about National Recovery Month. More information is available through BOMA Chicago’s Illuminate Chicago lighting program.
IDHS encourages Illinoisans to use #RecoveryBelongsIL to help normalize recovery and raise awareness about the many paths to recovery.
These events and activities are an opportunity to address and remove the stigma associated with recovery, encourage public support, and celebrate people in recovery as a beacon of hope for others experiencing substance use and mental health challenges.
Expanding Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Services
The IDHS Division of Behavioral Health & Recovery (DBHR) continues to promote and implement strategies targeted at saving lives and improving access to recovery services for people impacted by mental illness and substance use disorder in Illinois.
Overdose Prevention
In State Fiscal Year 2026 (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026), organizations enrolled in DBHR’s Drug Overdose Prevention Program (DOPP):
- Trained over 43,000 people to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose and respond by administering naloxone
- Distributed over 442,000 naloxone kits
- Reported at least 4,527 overdose reversals
Illinois Helpline
DBHR’s Illinois Helpline connects people to services for substance use and gambling disorders including treatment, Medication Assisted Recovery, harm reduction services, and housing. People can contact the Illinois Helpline for support services related to alcohol, opioids, methamphetamine, cocaine, and other drugs.
In State Fiscal Year 2026, the Helpline:
- Answered 22,587 calls
- Responded to nearly 2,000 texts and chats
- Had 578,765 unique web visitors
- Provided 11,327 referrals through calls, chats, and texts
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline offers immediate support for people experiencing a crisis. It plays a key role in the state’s behavioral health crisis care system, connecting individuals to timely services, saving lives, and easing the strain on emergency medical services.
In State Fiscal Year 2026:
- Six call centers operated across Illinois.
- Three of those call centers operated 24/7/365.
- The call centers answered 186,421 calls.
Peer Recovery Support
Illinois’ behavioral health workforce continues to grow, providing more opportunities for people with lived experience to support others on their recovery journeys.
As of July 2026, 1,010 individuals were credentialed as Certified Recovery Support Specialists (CRSS) and/or Certified Peer Recovery Specialists (CPRS). The milestone reflects the State’s continued investment in peer recovery support services and behavioral health workforce development and represents a 335% increase in the certified peer workforce since 2022
The State continues to provide important recovery reom behavioral health challenges. The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides toolkits to learn more about International Overdose Awareness Day and National Recovery Month.
Resources
- If you or someone you know is facing challenges with substance use or gambling, contact the Illinois Helpline by calling 1-833-234-6343 (2-FINDHELP), texting “HELP” to 833234, or visiting: www.helplineIL.org.
- For mental health and other crisis support, dial 9-8-8 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline anytime (24/7/365).
- Individuals seeking naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses can contact providers funded by DBHR to provide Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution (OEND) services at IDHS: Illinois Overdose Prevention Programs: Contact Information. Organizations interested in becoming a DOPP can go to IDHS: IDHS/DBHR Drug Overdose Prevention for more information.
- For recovery and wellness support, call the Illinois Warm Line at 866-359-7953, Monday – Saturday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. This line provides phone-based wellness and recovery support for anyone in Illinois. It is staffed by people who identify as individuals in recovery and therefore provides a unique blend of self-directed, empowering support, with education that includes resource materials and contacts.
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