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Opioid-Related Deaths in Illinois Are on the Rise

ACCORDING TO PROVISIONAL DATA FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, OPIOID DEATHS ARE ON THE RISE IN ILLINOIS.

 

NEARLY 29-HUNDRED PEOPLE DIED DUE TO AN OVERDOSE OF OPIATES LAST YEAR. THAT'S A 30 PERCENT INCREASE OVER 2019. 83 PERCENT OF THOSE CASES INVOLVED FENTANYL LACED DRUGS, WHICH MARNELL BROWN, FOUNDER OF THE NON PROFIT CHICAGO BASED GROUP "TO WALK IN MY SHOES" SAYS IS TURNING UP EVERYWHERE.

 

 

DUPAGE COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY ROBERT BERLIN SAYS THEY ARE TACKLING THE PROBLEM IN TWO WAYS: GETTING USERS INTO TREATMENT, AND REALLY GOING AFTER DEALERS.

 

 

BROWN WAS SPEAKING BEFORE A SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE ISSUE. OTHER SPEAKERS TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO GET DRUG USERS LONG-TERM TREATMENT INSTEAD OF PUTTING THEM IN JAIL AND TO AGGRESSIVELY PURSUE DEALERS WHO SELL TAINTED DRUGS THAT END UP KILLING SOMEONE.

 

I-D-P-H SAYS BLACK MEN ACCOUNT FOR THE MOST OPIOID OVERDOSE, BUT THAT THE BIGGEST INCREASE SEEN OVER THE YEAR HAS BEEN AMONG HISPANIC AND LATIN-X POPULATIONS.

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