As music festival Lollapalooza started Thursday, Chicago Department of Public Health officials used the opportunity to remind attendees to test their drugs.
“Fentanyl is a strong opioid that can easily cause overdose. Test your drugs before you use, carry Narcan, and don’t use alone. Call 911 if you suspect someone is overdosing,” the agency’s Twitter account wrote Wednesday, addressing Lollapalooza fans. “Stay safe this weekend. Fentanyl is found in cocaine, MDMA, and other drugs — not just heroin.”
ATTN Chicago & LOLLA FANS: Fentanyl is a strong opioid that can easily cause overdose. Test your drugs before you use, carry Narcan, and don’t use alone. Call 911 if you suspect someone is overdosing.
Get fentanyl test strips and Narcan by emailing [email protected].
🧵 pic.twitter.com/KztlxRW2pN— CDPH | Chicago Department of Public Health (@ChiPublicHealth) July 27, 2022
A building facing the plaza hosting the festival lit up its windows with a similar message: “Stay safe Lolla.”
EXPLAINER: YOU WON’T OVERDOSE ON FENTANYL JUST BY ACCIDENTALLY TOUCHING IT
The city’s Behavioral Health Bureau and Office of Epidemiology reported there were 5,517 opioid-related EMS responses during the first half of 2021, a 24% decrease from the same time frame in 2020. There were 467 opioid-related overdose deaths during that same period.
Still, overdose death rates involving fentanyl increased by 6%, making it the sole opioid to see an increase. Opioid-related overdose deaths are among the top drivers of the 8.8-year life expectancy gap between black and white Chicagoans, according to the Healthy Chicago 2025 report.
Attendees can receive fentanyl test strips and Narcan by emailing [email protected].
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Lollapalooza features musicians such as Metallica, Green Day, Eurovision winners Maneskin, and dozens more. The festival will end Sunday, July 31.
