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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and
3Prevention, over the past several years, heroin use and opioid
4painkiller abuse have increased across the State of Illinois
5and the United States among men and women, most age groups, and
6all income levels; and
 
7    WHEREAS, As heroin use has increased, so have
8heroin-related overdose deaths; nationwide, between 2002 and
92013, the rate of heroin-related overdose deaths nearly
10quadrupled, and more than 8,200 people died in 2013; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Between 2013 and 2014, the number of Illinoisans
12who have died of an overdose increased 8.3% from 1,570 to
131,705, and roughly 42% (711) of these total drug overdose
14deaths in Illinois were heroin-related; and
 
15    WHEREAS, There were 761 overdose deaths involving heroin in
162015 in Illinois; additionally, Illinois was one of 14 states
17that had a statistically significant increase in the rate of
18drug overdose deaths between 2013 and 2014; and
 
19    WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has
20said that states play a central role in prevention, treatment,
21and recovery efforts for this growing epidemic; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Several cities and counties in Illinois,
2including the Cities of Pekin and Dixon and the counties of Lee
3and Whiteside, have created Safe Passages Initiatives to combat
4the growing statewide problem of heroin and opioid abuse and
5addiction; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Safe Passages Initiatives allows individuals
7suffering from heroin and prescription opioid addiction to turn
8their drugs over to police or sheriff's departments and not
9fear prosecution; they are instead placed directly into
10treatment programs organized by the police department and
11community volunteers; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Safe Passages Initiatives are supported by the
13Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and have proven
14successful in the communities and counties in which they have
15been implemented by steering individuals away from the criminal
16justice system by helping them find the treatment they need;
17therefore, be it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
19ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we support Safe
20Passages Initiatives and encourages all police departments in
21the State to research and implement Safe Passages Initiatives
22in their respective cities and counties.