LaSalle County Board on Aug. 14 approved a resolution declaring Aug. 25–31, 2025, International Overdose Awareness Week after a presentation from County Coroner Rich Plock and remarks from local organizers.

Coroner Rich Plock told the board the county recorded 13 drug overdose deaths in 2024 and eight so far in 2025, with three additional suspected cases recently preliminarily identified. "Weare making good headway," Plock said, but added "you lose one level and one person's too much," urging continued outreach and prevention work.

The board heard from community members who work in harm reduction. Laurie Brown, who said she founded Buddy's Purpose after losing her son to an overdose, described distribution of naloxone and wound-care kits and requested the county display purple ribbons and promote an Aug. 30 remembrance event. "We give out Narcan and a lot of Narcan," Brown said, describing efforts to reduce stigma and connect people to treatment. Michelle Proxa, co-chair of the Streeter Overdose Awareness and Memorial event, said her group will read an "angel roll call" of more than 140 names at an Aug. 23 event and emphasized ongoing risks from adulterants in the drug supply.

The board considered a written resolution that summarized county and statewide overdose statistics and recognized LaSalle Countyefforts such as its naloxone program. The board moved to adopt the resolution; the motion was made by Mister Doze and seconded by Mister Templeton. The board voted in favor and the resolution was carried.

Why it matters: county officials framed the resolution as a public-education and destigmatization step paired with continuing local harm-reduction work, including prescription drug take-back boxes and naloxone distribution. Community organizations scheduled remembrance and outreach events to coincide with the awareness week.

The board did not adopt new funding or a program in the meeting; the action recorded in minutes was passage of the awareness-week resolution and public remarks urging continued education and harm-reduction distribution.