Lawmakers pick up the fight against opioids in Illinois

Posted on October 22, 2019
prescription drugs
Lawmakers express concern that the opioid-reversing drug Naloxone has become a “crutch” (Photo courtesy Pixabay)

 

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD– Lawmakers are taking another crack at fighting opioids in Illinois. A special committee of senators Monday heard from Jenny Epstein, director of strategic opioid initiatives at the Illinois Department of Public Health.

“Two years after the release of the state opioid action plan, the state is showing progress,” she said. “The number of opioid overdose deaths decreased in 2018; this is the first time in five years we have seen a decrease. There were 2167 deaths in 2018, compared to 2202 in 2017.”

One committee member, State Sen. Don DeWitte (R-St Charles), expressed concern that the opioid-reversing drug naloxone has become a “crutch” for users who know they can survive an overdose. Epstein maintained that any time you can save a life, there is a chance for recovery; thus, she added, naloxone (marketed as Narcan) should be as available as possible.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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