Opioids were involved in 80 percent of overdose deaths in 2016 according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. About 11,000 people have died in Illinois since 2008 from opioid overdoses. 

The following are several organizations in the 38th Senate District that can help you or your child in the fight against opioid addiction:

The Perfectly Flawed Foundation (LaSalle): The mission of The Perfectly Flawed Foundation is to strengthen communities affected by addiction by investing in children, individuals, and education.

Dusty Roads (Streator): This group seeks rehabilitation for those with addiction.

Buddy’s Purpose (Ottawa): The mission of Buddy’s Purpose is to educate our community on drug abuse, support the addict and their families, and offer support to those left behind after a substance related death!

Behavioral Health Alliance of Grundy County (Grundy County): The BHA was formed with the goals of helping organize the community to provide education and training in behavioral health prevent and to treat mental illness and substance use disorders.

Wilmington Coalition for a Healthy Community (Wilmington): The Coalition is a collaboration of people working within all segments of the community to create a safe, caring, and drug-free community. 

The Illinois General Assembly took action in 2018 to help address this crisis. The following are new laws on the books: 

SB 336: Gives individuals who have been prescribed opioids the option to use medical marijuana to treat their pain. 

SB 2952: Licensed prescribers may designate a non-licensed individual to check the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) database. Pharmacists, however, must designate a licensed designee.  

• Checking the PMP: Specifies that licensed prescribers may designate a non-licensed individual to check the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) database. Pharmacists, however, must designate a licensed designee. 
• PMP Data Privacy: Requires that the Prescription Monitoring Program clinical director or his/her designee maintain access/control to the PMP data.
• PMP Advisory Committee and the Peer-Review Subcommittee: Overhauls both the Advisory Committee and the Peer-Review Subcommittee. Provides for the replacing of current members after January 1, 2019. Expands the advisory committee and the peer-review subcommittee. Modifies the scope of the peer-review subcommittee.
• Data Review and Treatment Oversight: Mandates that the PMP and the Department of Public Health continuously review the data collected by the PMP and the Department to find at-risk individuals for opioid addiction. The PMP must review the data on all patients released from medical facilities with a sport or accident injury and must follow up with the prescribers and dispensers if a controlled substance is prescribed.

SB 2777: Requires licensed prescribers of controlled substances to complete three hours of continuing education on safe-opioid-prescribing practices prior to renewing their prescription license. 

HB 4707: Creates the Prescription Drug Task Force Act to study prescription opioid abuse in Illinois, study the over-prescription of opioids, such as Hydrocodone and Oxycodone, and recommend whether prescriptions should be restricted. 

SB 2524: Creates the Pharmaceutical Disposal Task Force to coordinate a state-wide public information campaign to highlight the benefits and opportunities of properly disposing pharmaceutical products. 

HB 4643: Allows consumers to pursue and begin physical therapy services without a doctor’s referral while still ensuring professional medical oversight safeguards. 

SB 1707: Expands the definition for “mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition.” Under this law, insurance companies’ coverage for patients seeking treatment for mental health and substance abuse disorders will be improved and consumers will receive better protections from the Department of Insurance.  

SB 682: Creates the Emergency Opioid and Addition Treatment Access Act, removing authorization barriers that could discourage or delay individuals seeking help for substance abuse disorders from receiving treatment. 

SB 3049: Expands the list of Medicaid providers eligible to receive reimbursement for Psychiatric Telehealth services allowing patients to have increased access to behavioral and mental health care. 

SB 3023: Creates the Community-Law Enforcement Partnership for Deflection and Addiction Treatment Act, facilitating a partnership between law enforcement agencies and licensed substance abuse service providers to address the growing opioid crisis. 

SB 2951: Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to create pilot programs for Medicaid beneficiaries targeting early treatment for mental illness and opioid addiction.