HR0248 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0248 LRB100 11805 MST 24073 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, An estimated two million people aged 12 or older in the United States have a substance use disorder related to prescription pain relievers including opioids, and an additional 591,000 related to heroin; and

WHEREAS, During 2015, there were 52,404 deaths due to drug overdose, 63% of which were caused by opioids; and

WHEREAS, In Illinois, heroin-related deaths increased 22% between 2013 and 2014, from 583 to 711 deaths; the death rate in Illinois related to synthetic opioids other than methadone increased by 120% between 2014 and 2015; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 1.5 million of the 2.3 million individuals incarcerated in local, State, and federal jails or prisons meet diagnostic criteria for substance use disorder; an estimated 15% of the hundreds entering and leaving prison have heroin use disorders; and

WHEREAS, Only 11% of those incarcerated in jails or prisons who meet diagnostic criteria for a substance use disorder receive any type of professional treatment while incarcerated, and fewer than 1% of them are provided detoxification services; and

WHEREAS, Over the past five years alone, families in at least six states have been awarded nearly $11 million in compensation for loved ones who died while being denied routine detoxification care in local jails; and

WHEREAS, The Federal Bureau of Prisons, the World Health Organization, and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care provide guidelines and standards for the provision of care for individuals in correctional custody who need detoxification services; and

WHEREAS, The provision of medical monitoring and medically assisted detoxification in jails requires fiscal support for personnel, medications, and supplies, and the level of support is likely less than would be costs associated with wrongful death lawsuits; and

WHEREAS, County sheriffs in Illinois and around the country have been instrumental in assisting incarcerated individuals with substance use disorders connect to community-based substance use and mental health treatment services following release from jail; and

WHEREAS, County sheriffs in Illinois have consistently asked for more resources in dealing with addiction and the mentally ill, only to be repeatedly denied due to limited local resources; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois continues to underfund mental health treatment in Illinois and fails to properly and timely fund community providers for substance abuse treatment; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge county sheriffs across Illinois to continue to implement standard medical protocols for monitoring and treatment of individuals experiencing withdrawal while incarcerated to mitigate pain and discomfort, and to reduce the risk of both serious medical incidents, including death, and wrongful death lawsuits; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge local municipalities, county boards, and the State to provide fiscal support necessary to assist county sheriffs in undertaking these efforts; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to all county sheriffs and county board presidents in Illinois.