About LCOI

The Lake County Opioid Initiative (LCOI) works to address the opioid and heroin crisis in Lake County.

Due to the serious nature of this threat in 2013, then Lake County State’s Attorney Mike Nerheim called on local stakeholders to develop a comprehensive opioid prevention strategy for Lake County. Several groups including Nicasa Behavioral Health Services, Live4Lali, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Chief of Round Lake Park Police Department and Commander of the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force George Filenko, were part of this initiative.

Officers of the Board of Directors

Jennifer Banek, Board Chair

Dr. Michael Karner, Vice Chair

Lake County Coroner

Dr. Michael Karner, Vice Chair

Regional Superintendent of Schools, Lake County Regional Office of Education

Eric Rinehart, Secretary

Dr. Adam M. Rubinstein, MD, Treasurer

Lake County State's Attorney

Dr. Adam M. Rubinstein, MD, Treasurer

Private Practice

members of the Board of Directors

Marah Altenberg

Lake County Board Member

Chas Buschick

Marah Altenberg

President, Lake County Fire Chiefs Association

Joy Gossman

Marah Altenberg

Geoffrey Guttschow

Lake County Board Member

Geoffrey Guttschow

Antioch Chief of Police

John Idleburg

Geoffrey Guttschow

John Idleburg

Lake County Sheriff

Sam Johnson

Geoffrey Guttschow

John Idleburg

Director of Behavioral Health, Lake County Health Department

Devin Steiber, LCSW, CADC, ACSW, PCGC

Local Recovery Coordinator, Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Center

Justin Stried

Devin Steiber, LCSW, CADC, ACSW, PCGC

Lake County Fire Chiefs Association

Gregory Ticsay

Devin Steiber, LCSW, CADC, ACSW, PCGC

Karen Wolownik Albert

Lake County Public Defender

Karen Wolownik Albert

CEO, Recovery Centers of America