This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Reboletti Named Vice-Chair of Heroin Task Force

Springfield, IL – State Representative Dennis Reboletti (R-Elmhurst) has been chosen to serve as the Vice Chairman of the newly-formed House Bipartisan Task Force on the Heroin Crisis. The panel is charged with studying the need for legislation to address the concerns that this epidemic is generating on the part of both suburban families and local law enforcement. While the Task Force has not yet arranged a schedule for meetings, Reboletti says heroin abuse issues must be addressed sooner rather than later.

“Not only did we have a record-breaking 46 overdose deaths in DuPage County last year, but all throughout the state you’d be surprised to learn there are thousands of overdoses where the person lives,” said Reboletti, a former narcotics prosecutor. “Unfortunately, the clock has run out on many people.”

This month in DuPage County, Reboletti and a group of House Republican lawmakers introduced a comprehensive package of legislation designed to tackle the full range and scope of Illinois’ heroin crisis. Included in the package are the following five bills:

Find out what's happening in Glen Ellynwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • House Bill 5766 would create a pilot program in DuPage County to establish a secure substance abuse treatment facility that will be a joint partnership between the state and county to serve as a “last chance” option for those convicted of drug crimes.
  • House Bill 5767 would extend Illinois’ RICO statutes sunset date to 2022, which is currently scheduled to expire in 2017. It would also allow prosecutors to use a portion of the proceeds from seized assets accumulated by gangs to fund substance abuse treatment programs.
  • House Bill 5528 would generate drug overdose data by requiring each county’s Department of Public Health to track and periodically report the number of drug overdose deaths to the State.
  • The package calls for two state-wide heroin education initiatives:
  • House Bill 5530 looks to raise awareness on the “Good Samaritan Law” which protects people from prosecution for reporting an overdose. 
  • House Bill 5529 directs the Department of Human Services to create and distribute pamphlets to educate holders of opiate prescriptions about the dangers of children and teens gaining access to medications.

Reboletti says he would like the legislature to take action on the bills in the next month.

“The Illinois heroin epidemic is an issue that cannot be delayed. Heroin addiction is not only a disease of the individual – it becomes a family disease. It’s important to continue to have an open dialogue with the community as we look for ways to prevent the loss of life and protect other families from having to experience such pain in the future.”

Find out what's happening in Glen Ellynwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The task force plans to hold four public hearings in Chicago and the suburbs during the course of the Spring Session.

For real-time updates, follow Rep. Reboletti on Twitter @DennisReboletti. For more information, please contact State Rep. Dennis Reboletti at 630-628-0045 or repreboletti@gmail.com.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?