On the front lines, combating the growing heroin addiction problem, officials at Lake County's drug court are trying new methods to get people off drugs and on with their lives.
Judge John Trebets told NewsChannel 5 he saw more and more of the heroin problem every week.
Trebets presides over drug court, where, with specific cases, he issues rehab-focused sentencing over prison time.
"It costs seven times more to incarcerate a person than it does to get them treatment," Trebets said.
He said drug court officials are always exploring new ways to keep the people they see from falling back into addiction.
"One glove doesn't fit all here," he said.
Their newest option? The injectable drug Vivitrol.
"It's a new tool and it's something we're striving to use," Trebets said.
Vivitrol is an opiate blocker.
Drug court's treatment manager, Dr. Dennis Michelson, said if someone going through drug court chooses to use it as a treatment option, one shot stops that person from feeling any affects of heroin for about a month.
"It's not the magic cure all, but it takes away the incentive to use," Dr. Michelson said.
He told NewsChannel 5 the drug is working with some of the people they see.
"Things look very promising, very good."
But could Vivitrol really make a difference? We asked Dr. Martina Moore, who has also used it with recovering addicts.
"Everyone is looking for the answer- could vivitrol be one of them?"
"It could be, but not alone, a person needs treatment along with it," Moore said.
While Dr. Moore admits it's going to take more than a shot to curb the heroin epidemic, she said Vivitrol is a step in the right direction.
"On average I lose one to two clients in a month, that's astounding. So we have something that's effective. Let's take advantage of it," she said.
The problem with Vivitrol? It's expensive.
More than $1,000 per shot, according to health officials. Right now, there are coverage options with Medicaid.
