#581 In-person and Online: Every life counts: tracking opioid overdose deaths on the CTA

In order to understand the scope of a public health crisis, you must count the dead. While the Medical Examiner’s Office does track the number of opioid-overdose related deaths that occur in Cook County every year, no city department tracks how many of those deaths occur on the CTA, including the CTA. This matters, because while the majority of overdoses that result in death in the county do occur in private homes, the ones that happen on the CTA-where hundreds of unhoused Chicagoans shelter every winter–are visible, public, and thus present more opportunity for reversal.

According to Katie Prout of the Chicago Reader, 158 people died from overdose on the CTA between 2018-2022. That number is likely an underestimate. For her talk, Prout will discuss how she came to those numbers, how other cities (and transit agencies) across the U.S. are tracking those numbers, and the questions that remain.

This event will be in person, but you can also tune in via our usual livestream. Doors open at 6pm. The livestream and announcements will start around 6:30pm CDT.

In-person: TeamWorking, 20 N Upper Wacker Drive, 12th Floor, Chicago IL. Enter the Civic Opera Building using the entrance in the middle of the block between Washington and Madison streets. Take the elevators to the 12th floor.

For more information on our in-person events, please see our COVID Policy.

RSVP In-person attendees should RSVP beforehand. As occupancy limits permit, walk-ins will be allowed to enter.

There will be food! We will be serving Costa Rican empanadas, chicken casado and rice from Irazu!