The State of Illinois has alerted local health departments about multiple counterfeit opioid pill-related overdoses, including two fatalities, over the past week. The overdose cases involve young people between the ages of 19-23 years, and additional cases are under investigation. The young people involved referred to the counterfeit pills as “M30,” “Percocet,” or oxycodone, which were purchased on the street.

Dr. Richard Jorgensen is endorsed by the Daily Herald for re-election as DuPage County Coroner.

Jorgensen, a retired surgeon who practiced at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, has made the most of his nearly eight years as coroner. After bringing extensive medical and administrative experience to the office, Jorgensen set out to increase training for deputy coroners, convert from paper to electronic records and find ways to do more with less.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. All month, mental health advocates, prevention organizations, survivors, allies and community members unite to promote suicide prevention awareness.

In DuPage County, data provided by the DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) indicates rates of suicides have been increasing at an alarming rate over the past several years. In fact, addressing mental health concerns has been listed in the Impact DuPage’s top 3 health priorities for our community. More recently, data provided by DuPage County Coroner, Richard Jorgensen, M.D. indicates the rate of deaths by suicide increasing as the impact of COVID-19 continues.

DuPage County Coroner Richard Jorgensen, M.D. reports data indicating an alarming increase in suicidal deaths in DuPage County. This Public Service Announcement is a report after an in-depth review of all deaths due to suicidal deaths in the first six (6) months of 2020, during the onset of COVID-19 “shelter at home” compared to the same period in 2019.

DuPage County Coroner Richard Jorgensen saved himself a bit of work last week. According to DuPage County Circuit Court Clerk Chris Kachiroubas, Jorgensen -- a surgeon -- responded "in a New York second" to a man in distress Aug. 15 at a restaurant.

On Wednesday, May 13, 2020 DuPage County Coroner Richard Jorgensen, M.D. reported on preliminary data indicating an alarming increase in overdose deaths in DuPage County. This Public Service Announcement is a follow up to that initial report with an in-depth review of all deaths due to overdose in the first six (6) months of 2020, during the onset of Covid 19 shelter at home compared to the same period in 2019.

Dr. Richard Jorgensen, DuPage County Coroner, wishes to inform the public of the occurrence of two new street drugs in the area. These drugs are Flualprazolam and Isotonitazene. The DuPage Coroner’s Office has investigated eleven (11) deaths involving  Flualprazolam and four (4) related to Isotonitazene. These are new and dangerous drugs.

Coroner Richard Jorgensen, MD recently appeared on PBS News Hour to discuss his expertise in the opioid epidemic and the effect of the pandemic on overdose deaths.

Thought local morgues and funeral homes haven’t been overwhelmed so far by COVID-19 deaths, DuPage County Coroner Richard Jorgensen, M.D., is prepared to help them out. Dr. Jorgensen recently appeared on Naperville Community Television (NCTV17) to discuss his office’s response to the pandemic, their continuation of service throughout the crisis, and his impressions of the overall response of the government and public.

On April 6, 2020 DuPage County Coroner Richard Jorgensen appeared on the WTTW Chicago program Chicago Tonight to discuss his decision to purchase a mobile morgue for DuPage County. Jorgensen also elaborated on how he constantly communicating with other stakeholders in the area to to ensure that DuPage County is prepared for any increase in deaths due to COVID-19.

DuPage County Coroner Richard Jorgensen recently purchased a mobile morgue facility for the county in light of the unfolding coronavirus pandemic. The acquisition of the mobile morgue was done in preparation of a worst-case scenario where there is a large increase in coronaviurs related deaths in DuPage County that could stress funeral home and existing morgue capacity. The hope is that the facility will not be needed, but Jorgensen remains committed to his duties and being prepared for whatever may happen.

The DuPage County Coroner recently released statistics on opioid-related deaths in 2019. Dr. Richard Jorgensen’s report showed 96 opioid deaths in 2019, a number that has held relatively steady over recent years. In 2018, there were 98 opioid-related deaths and 95 in each of 2017 and 2016.

Students from Midwestern University's Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine recently welcomed the DuPage County Corner Richard Jorgensen.

DuPage County plans to start an opioid fatality review team to see if it can find common factors in overdose deaths and identify risk factors that lead to opioid abuse. The work is part of a coordinated initiative to fight opioid drug abuse that has received a $1.1 million federal Bureau of Justice Assistance grant, county officials said Monday. "Data and knowing the data and knowing the problem is very essential to opening our eyes to this problem," Coroner Richard Jorgensen said.

Students in the Future Healthcare Professionals Club at Hinsdale South High School learned the responsibilities and procedures of the DuPage County Coroner's Office Tuesday during a tour of the facility. That included the tip from coroner Richard Jorgensen that murderers sometimes try to cover up a crime by setting a fire.