The opioid epidemic is the most significant public health and public safety crisis facing Illinois. The misuse of and addiction to opioids—including prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl—is a serious national crisis that affects public health as well as social and economic welfare. The opioid crisis affects everyone in the state in some way. Its victims are of all ages, races, and walks of life. Drug overdoses have now become the leading cause of death nationwide for people under the age of 50. In Illinois, opioid overdoses have killed nearly 11,000 people since 2008. In Illinois last year, nearly 2,000 people died of overdoses—almost twice the number of fatal car accidents. Beyond these deaths are thousands of emergency department visits, hospital stays, as well as the pain suffered by individuals, families, and communities.

Can drug addiction be treated?

Yes, but it’s not simple. Because addiction is a chronic disease, people can’t simply stop using drugs for a few days and be cured. Most patients need long-term or repeated care to stop using completely and recover their lives. Due to the symptoms of withdrawal and the psychological grip heroin has on its users, a professional treatment center usually offers the best chances of a successful recovery. Medical management is important in helping wean individuals off opioids by helping to reduce cravings and prevent future use.

Macoupin County Medically Assisted Opiate Recovery Program

The substance abuse recovery program at Maple Street Clinic has been successful in treating many individuals that suffer from opioid addiction. Our services include:

• Medical Stabilization
• Medically Assisted Recovery
• Outpatient Treatment Program
• Individual Treatment Plan
• Individual Therapy Sessions
• Group Psycho-education Classes
• Group Psychotherapy Sessions
• Medical and Dental Services
• Counselor Services
• Family support groups

​Our clinical staff includes a team of experts in the field of opioid recovery. Components of treatment include:

• Scientific, medically assisted, clinically proven approach
• Best Practice Model (not a 12-step approach)
• Integrated Medical and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) approach
• Coping and disease management, including impulse control
• Treating the underlying issues (including anxiety, depression, panic disorders, bipolar, schizophrenia, ADHD, and others)

See more:

http://mcphd.net/opiate-recovery/

Contact Us

For additional information about our services or to schedule an appointment, contact the Macoupin County Recovery Center at 217-839-7200.

If you are in crisis, please seek immediate emergency medical assistance by calling 911 or reporting to the nearest emergency room.

 

16 million American adults are affected by depression every year. Depression is more than just feeling down or having a bad day. When a sad mood lasts for a long time and interferes with normal, everyday functioning, you may be depressed. Depression takes a toll not only on the individual but also the entire family and can lead to marital problems and cause adverse effects on the emotional, behavioral and cognitive development of children in the family. Depression can cause impaired functioning, loss of income and diminished quality of life.

Symptoms of depression include:

• Feeling sad, worthless or helpless
• Lack of interest in usual activities
• Feeling irritable‚ easily frustrated‚ or restless
• Sleep disturbance
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Thinking about suicide or hurting yourself

What Causes Depression?

The exact cause of depression is unknown. It is believed that depression results from the interaction of a combination of factors:

• Genetically influenced responses to stress
• Exposure to early life stress, such as trauma, abuse or loss of parent
• Presence of ongoing stressors, such as death of a loved one, divorce or loss of a job
• Going through a major life change‚ even if it was planned
• Having a medical problem, such as cancer, stroke, or chronic pain
• Using alcohol or drugs

What Are the Treatments for Depression?

Many helpful treatments for depression are available. Treatment for depression can help reduce symptoms and shorten how long the depression lasts. Treatment can include getting therapy and/or taking medications.

Many people benefit from seeing a therapist who can help you cope with thoughts‚ feelings‚ and issues that are happening in your life now and prepare you for challenges in the future. Some common goals of therapy include:

• Overcoming fears or insecurities
• Coping with stress
• Making sense of past painful events
• Having better relationships with family and friends

Many people with depression find that taking prescribed medications called antidepressants help improve their mood and coping skills. Several antidepressant medications are available and sometimes it takes several tries to find the best medication and the right dose for you, so be patient. Some people start to feel better a few days after starting the medication‚ but it can take up to 4 weeks to feel the most benefit. Antidepressants work well and are safe for most people‚ but it is still important to talk with your doctor if you have side effects. Some antidepressants may cause risks during pregnancy so it is important to tell your provider if you are pregnant or might be pregnant, or if you are planning to become pregnant.

Depression and Suicide: Getting Help in a Crisis

If you or someone you know is having thoughts about hurting themselves or committing suicide‚ please seek immediate help. Call 1−800−273−TALK (8255) to reach a 24−hour crisis center or dial 911. 1−800−273−TALK is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which provides free‚ confidential help to people in crisis.

Get Informed. Get Screened. Get Help.

According to the CDC, nearly 90% of persons with severe depressive symptoms reported difficulty with work, home, or social activities yet only 35.3% of persons with severe depressive symptoms reported having seen a mental health professional in the past year. The goal of treatment is remission and complete recovery to increase the quality of life for you and your loved ones. Both Maple Street Clinic and Morgan Street Clinic offer professional help for depression and other behavioral health issues. Medication management and counseling services are offered for all ages. We are currently accepting new patients, offer flexible appointments, and affordable rates.

See more here:

Behavioral Health Services

For more information or to schedule an appointment at one of our clinics call:

• Maple Street Clinic at 217-839-1526
• Morgan Street Clinic at 217-854-3692

 

The Macoupin County Public Health Department believes everyone should have access to comprehensive and quality health care. We are dedicated to serve and work with the people in the community to prevent disease and promote wellness to the residents of Macoupin County. Our clinics offer preventative and medical services for all individuals across the lifespan. We accept patients from newborn to senior citizens regardless of insurance coverage.

We accept:

• All Private Health Insurances
• Traditional Medicaid
• Medicare
• Harmony (Managed Medicaid)
• Illinicare (Managed Medicaid)
• Meridian (Managed Medicaid)
• Molina (Managed Medicaid)
• Envolve
• Liberty
• Denta Quest
• Avesis
• Blue Cross Community Family Health Plan (Managed Medicaid)
• Sliding fee scale is available for uninsured individuals and under insured

For more information or to schedule an appointment at one of our clinics call:

• Maple Street Clinic at 217-839-1526
• Morgan Street Clinic at 217-854-3692

Family violence can be mentally, emotionally, and physically destructive. It can affect anyone of any age, gender, race, or sexual orientation. It may include behaviors meant to scare, physically harm, or control a partner. While every relationship is different, domestic violence generally involves an unequal power dynamic in which one partner tries to assert control over the other in a variety of ways. Examples include insults and threats, emotional abuse, and sexual coercion. Victims experience diminished self-worth, anxiety, depression, and a general sense of helplessness that can take time and often professional help to overcome.

Domestic violence is a crime and punishable by law.

Emergency Information

• If you have been the victim of violence and need immediate assistance, call 9-1-1 or your local police department.
• If you need more information, support, or emergency shelter, call 1-888-259-6364
• If you need immediate medical attention, contact your family physician or the emergency hospital nearest you.
• If the police have been summoned to your home and you wish to report the incident but do not wish to press charges, call the hotline about seeking legal information 1-888-259-6364

To Press Charges

• Request that the officer at the scene file a police report.
• Have photos of the injuries taken while they are most visible.
• Please seek medical attention if necessary and obtain all medical reports.
• Contact the State’s Attorney about filing charges.

Safe Families Program Hotline 1-888-259-6364

Safe Families FAQ:

What is Safe Families?

Safe Families of Macoupin County provides residents with a free and confidential services in a variety of ways including but not limited to: counseling referrals, transportation, employment, education, basic needs and life skills support. We support survivors of Domestic Violence by accompanying survivors to court, assisting with Orders of Protection and creating safety plans.

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic Violence is destructive and can be both physical or psychological. It can affect anyone of any age, gender, race or sexual orientation. It may include behaviors meant to scare, physically harm, or control a partner. While every relationship is different – domestic violence generally involves an unequal power dynamic in which one partner tries to assert control over the other in a variety of ways.

How do I become a client of MCPHD’s Safe Families Program?

If you’d like to become a client, that will open the doors to utilize all our services for free. It’s a longer process and involves more than orders of protection. We would meet face to face to discuss your situation and other methods of safety. Then, we would have you sign our release of information, confidentiality forms and any referrals that are needed. Finally – we would review your rights as a client and the service plan we generate. If an emergency order of protection is needed immediately, now would be that time to assist in completing those forms.

What happens during an Emergency Order of Protection?

Safe Families can assist in preparing your emergency order of protection. Once those forms are e-Filed, you will attend an emergency hearing at the courthouse. Please check with the advocate and/or Circuit Clerks: Probate Division for the correct times. The judge will see you for a hearing and discuss the reasoning for an order of protection. You can include evidence for source material and/or have that conversation with the judge. The judge will rule on the order and tell you if it’s granted or not.

My emergency order wasn’t granted, what should I do?

If it’s an emergency order, please check with the courthouse if you are to attend a Plenary Hearing instead. That simply means that the judge needs more time to make the decision but rules that it’s not an immediate threat of safety. You will need to attend an Plenary Hearing for an Order of Protection (this is the non-emergency basis).

If There’s No Plenary Hearing….

Please keep all court documents in a safe spot. There are a couple options that you can do if the order is not granted. We can look into those options on a case-by-case basis. Please see one of our advocates for more information.

 

We are here to help. Safe Families Program Hotline 1-888-259-6364

 

What is Lead Poisoning?

Lead poisoning is the presence of too much lead in the body. It is the most common preventable pediatric health problem in the United States today.  It is caused by exposure to lead that is either eaten or inhaled, in the form of dust. The body carries the lead in the blood to soft tissues and bones, where it can be stored for many days. Lead harms several organs, including the nervous system and kidneys.

Many things in our everyday lives put infants, children and adults in danger of lead poisoning. Lead-based paint was used in many homes built before 1978. The older the home, the more likely that windows, cupboards, doors, porches, and outdoor surfaces contain lead-based paint. Lead dust can come from repairing areas with lead paint, opening and closing windows, and through normal wear and tear of painted areas. Lead dust settles to the floor and gets on children’s hands and toys. It enters their bodies when they put their hands or toys into their mouth.  For more information read the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Sources of Childhood Lead Poisoning. (link to www.idph.state.il.us/HealthWellness/leadfs_sources.pdf)

What are the symptoms of lead poisoning?

A lead poisoning has no obvious signs, therefore a child may seem healthy.  Some children with lead poisoning do have the following symptoms:  stomach aches, decreased appetite, hyperactivity, sleeping problems or irritability.  Later symptoms may include vomiting, weight loss, dizziness and even convulsions.  Lead poisoning can cause a number of serious health concerns including developmental disabilities.

For more information, read Childhood Lead Poisoning or The Medical Consequences of Lead Poisoning

When should my child be tested for lead poisoning?

Many children have blood lead tests as part of their regular care by a doctor or clinic.  Some children may be required to have blood lead tests to enroll in daycare, head start, pre-school or kindergarten.   These tests are important for children who live or spend time in older houses which may have lead paint.

Children should be tested for lead poisoning at one and two years of age or more often depending on their contact with sources of lead.

How Can I Determine if my Child Should be Tested?

• Does the child now or in the recent past live in or often visit a house built before 1950 with peeling or chipping paint?  This could include a day care, preschool, or home of a relative.
• Does the child now or in the recent past live in or often visit a house built before1978 that had been remodeled within the last year?
• Does the child have a brother or sister (or playmate) with lead poisoning?
• Does the child live with an adult whose job or hobby involves lead?
• Does the child’s family use any home remedies that may contain lead?

If you answered no to every question, this means your child is at LOW RISK for lead poisoning. If you answered yes or don’t know the answer to any of these questions, this means your child is at HIGH RISK for lead poisoning.  The only way to know for sure is to have your child tested.  Talk to your child’s doctor to arrange for a blood test.  Show the doctor this questionnaire so he or she knows why your child is at risk.

How do I get my Child Tested for Lead Poisoning?

Ask your family doctor or Pediatrician to do a blood lead test on your child at 12 month and 24 months of age.  Medicaid insurance will pay for the cost of the test if your child is enrolled.  If you have private insurance, coverage may vary.

If the family doctor or Pediatrician does not perform blood lead tests in their office, he or she may refer you to a laboratory or the health department to have the blood lead test.  Macoupin County Public Health Department screens children in the WIC Program at 12 and 24 months.

If the first blood lead test is done with a capillary sample (finger stick) and the analysis of the sample shows an elevated blood lead level, it will be very important for you to have your child tested with a venous blood sample to confirm the results.  This can be done by contacting your doctor to receive an order to take your child to a hospital lab. The Health Department Lead Program Nurse will contact you to let you know that you need to do this.

Call Maple Street Clinic at (217) 839-1526 or Morgan Street Clinic at (217) 854-3692 if you have further questions about getting your child tested for lead poisoning.

What can I do to protect my child?

1. Wash your child’s hands, bottles, pacifiers and toys often
2. Test the soil your child plays in
3. Make sure children eat healthy foods and snacks such as lean meat, chicken, turkey and fish, milk, low-fat cheese, yogurt, broccoli, collard and turnip greens, oranges or grapefruits, orange or grapefruit juice, potatoes, tomatoes and peppers. Low-fat milk and foods are best for children over the age of two.
4. Have your home checked for lead hazards
5. Keep floors, window sills and other surfaces dust and dirt free
6. Take off shoes when entering the house
7. Talk to your landlord about fixing peeling or chipping paint.
8. Take precautions to avoid exposure to lead dust when remodeling or renovating.
9. Don’t use a power sander, open flame torch, heat gun above 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit, dry scraper, or sandpaper on painted surfaces that may contain lead.
10. Use very cold tap water for drinking and cooking.
11. Learn how to remove lead-based paint safely.

What can I do to make a lead-safe home?

Certain housekeeping methods can reduce the amount of lead dust in your home.  To learn about these methods read the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Housekeeping Tips to Reduce Lead Exposure.

For more information check out:

Get the Lead Out –Intervention 

Get the Lead Out – Prevention 

Get the Lead Out – Renovation 

A Landlord’s Guide for Working Safely with Lead