Chapter of the Week: Chicago

End Overdose's chapter program is vital to our success in equipping young people with lifesaving education and resources. In cities and on college campuses, we trust them to spread the word through a true peer-to-peer model. Our members and volunteers are committing endless hours to End Overdose's cause, so we want to highlight a chapter every week.

Today, we're proud to highlight our Chicago chapter! We spoke with presidents Jackie Pawlowski and Ellie Werner about the evolution of their chapter, the impact they've made everywhere from Chicago music festivals to local campuses, and much more.

What sparked your interest in overdose prevention/response and End Overdose in particular?

Jackie: I lost my cousin Shevy to an overdose and it really affected me. I was really grieving the loss, and almost got lost in my grief. I wanted to turn all that into something positive, so I started researching overdose prevention nonprofits and organizations that I could volunteer at and stumbled upon End Overdose. I reached out and asked if they had any services in or near Chicago since I saw they were based in LA. At the time (around August 2021), they did not have any services in Chicago but I was told I could start a chapter. It’s 5 years later, and I can’t imagine coming across a different nonprofit that day. I love seeing how far not only the Chicago chapter has come since then but End Overdose as a whole. I’m so thankful to have come across this organization and really believe in its mission, No One Else Has To Die.

Ellie: As a Psychology major and someone who works in community health, I developed an early interest for understanding substance misuse and overdose prevention. Volunteering has always been important to me. After educating myself about our nation's history regarding drug policy and treatment, I felt called to be part of the solution. I loved how approachable End Overdose was and felt its intersection with the EDM scene was unique. I have been going to music festivals and shows for over a decade. Being able to volunteer at some of these events is really special because I’m actively helping my community become safer. End Overdose also does a great job at reaching broader populations in a way that makes it easy for anyone to become educated and trained. Destigmatizing and spreading knowledge is powerful and necessary in our collective effort to reduce the overdose fatality rate in this county.

Can you describe your experience as the chapter president?

Jackie: Being the president of the Chicago chapter has been so rewarding. It’s allowed me to meet and talk with many different people I would not have had the chance to collaborate and work with otherwise

Ellie: I just recently moved into this position and am very excited to make an impact. I began as a general volunteer in 2023 and feel grateful to play a role in reducing preventable tragedies. I love being able to connect with communities throughout the Chicagoland area and give overdose response training and education. It has been a privilege to get to work alongside our volunteers and leadership team. I’m very much looking forward to expanding and providing more outreach as the year unfolds.

What are the major highlights from your chapter’s work to date?

Jackie: At North Coast Music Festival 2025, we distributed 1200 doses of naloxone. At North Park University, we've trained their campus safety, student health and wellness center, and students as a whole for going on 4 years.

Ellie: End Overdose Chicago has become well known in the music and festival scenes. Getting to reach thousands of attendees through events such as North Coast and Beyond Wonderland has been really cool. Our amount of long-form training and tabling events is continuously increasing each year. The new leadership team has been working hard to find fun and creative ways to be more involved in Chicago and increase the organization's visibility. Our social media is something we are excited to play around with too!

What do you envision for the future of your chapter?

Jackie: The future of the Chicago chapter is bright. I envision more festivals and concerts for our chapter. Along with more relationships with the numerous colleges and universities we have here to supply campuses with overdose prevention and response. I am very optimistic that the Chicago chapter will grow significantly due to the efforts of our newly appointed leadership board and the constant interest others have to volunteer with us. I envision the Chicago chapter continuing to extend community outreach and making End Overdose Chicago a more recognizable name in the city.

Ellie: Our leadership team has recently grown and evolved. I’m optimistic that with this new team we will be able to expand our outreach efforts and solidify our presence even more. We look forward to collaborating, training, and fundraising as we move into the new year. We want to develop the Chicago chapter’s identity and continue exploring different ways to increase awareness about End Overdose’s mission.