The city of Chicago announced it’s taking a new approach to opioid addiction and overdose deaths. [WGN News] 

To Family Guidance Centers for Treatment says in 2020, more than 1300 people died of an opioid overdose in Chicago. That’s a 52% increase over 2019 and the highest number on record in the city.  

The FGC and the city will now be involved in a new pilot program to get people the help they need now.  

• Medication Assisted Recovery, or MAR, involves medicated treatment to help reduce opioid use. 
  

There used to be a lot of red tape to access it, but the city is expediting the process.  

Chicagoans can now call a city helpline and get routed directly to a prescriber at FGC to start treatment that same day.  

That number is 833-234-6343. Texting “HELP” to 833234 is also an option

The MAR-Now helpline will be answered 24/7 – but you’ll only be connected with a provider between the hours of 6 a.m.  and 10 p.m.

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