Away From Jail...Into Treatment

I found a recent statewide poll concerning the opioid crisis to be quite interesting. A new law signed by Governor Bruce Rauner back in August appears to have broad appeal among the state’s citizens.

The law allows law enforcement agencies to establish programs that move addicts away from jail..and into treatment programs.

Almost 70-percent of those polled liked the approach…and I do too.

Let’s say you have chronic pain and are prescribed vicodin by a medical doctor to deal with it. Soon, you need more to deal with the agony….and finally you are dependent on the drug. If you are caught abusing it, the options for police have been limited. The new law allows cops to “deflect” from criminal arrest for those who have overdosed or who have criminal substance use issues---instead directing them into addiction treatment.

It just makes common sense to me…and to the majority of Illinoisans who understand the issue.

Better than the previous two choices….arrest or ignore.

It’s important to understand that from 2013-thru-2017, the number of deaths attributed to opioid abuse doubled in Illinois. It is truly a crisis.

I find this issue totally separate from the new governor’s bent towards legalizing recreational pot. Opioids and medicinal marijuana can effectively be used to quiet people’s pain if used responsibly.

Recreational pot is a way to get high. For me, there is a distinct difference.