Overview

• A three-day heat wave coincided with 60 opioid overdoses on Friday and Saturday, including 37 cases in 24 hours, triggering the city’s spike alert under its new 37-case threshold.
• Experts report that rising temperatures heighten opioid use risks and note that most overdoses involve synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.
• Chicago’s average of 22 daily overdoses this year reflects a continued decline from previous years, with overdose deaths peaking at over 1,400 in 2021.
• West Side neighborhoods—East Garfield Park, West Garfield Park, North Lawndale, Austin and Humboldt Park—accounted for 34 percent of overdose-related EMS calls.
• In response to the alert, public health teams are distributing naloxone, offering drug checking and connecting individuals to treatment services.