NW Illinois News

In a Sept. 2 Facebook post, Rep. Tony McCombie talked about the damage that fentanyl can do to families and communities. She shared statistics related to fentanyl poisoning as well.

"This crisis is affecting every community across our state and devastating families in the process," McCombie said. "In response to the growing prevalence of fentanyl poisoning in Illinois, I passed legislation this year, HB3203, to allow pharmacists and retail stores to sell potentially life-saving fentanyl test strips over the counter. As fentanyl cannot be smelled or tasted, it is impossible to determine if drugs contain the powerful opioid without the use of test strips. The test strips will be able to identify if fentanyl is present in any drug, which is essential considering a dose of only two milligrams can have fatal consequences."

In her Facebook post, Rep. McCombie shared a link to her statement about International Overdose Awareness Day. In that statement, she said: “Saving lives from fentanyl poisoning and opioid abuse takes all of us, not just elected officials but concerned citizens, neighbors, and family members. The flow of illegal fentanyl across the U.S. southern border and into Illinois must be stopped to address this epidemic and save lives. Every tool must be made available to law enforcement, first responders, and educators to help end this crisis and keep our young people safe from fentanyl’s lethal consequences.”

The bill that McCombie mentioned in her Facebook post is House Bill 3203, which became Public Act 103-0336, when it was signed into law on July 28, 2023. The bill allows pharmacists and retailers to sell fentanyl test strips over the counter, without prescriptions, in order to test for fentanyl or an analog. A county health department may also distribute these test strips. The bill moved to the Senate on March 23 and was sent to Gov. J.B. Pritzker for his signature on June 8. It will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

For 2021, The National Center for Health Statistics notes that Illinois had 29 overdose deaths per 100,000 residents, but does not specify which drugs are responsible for these deaths.

International Overdose Awareness Day is a campaign to end overdose and remember those who have overdosed and died. The day is celebrated on Aug. 31, annually. It started in Melbourne, in 2001, and has become the largest annual campaign targeting the end of overdose deaths and remembering those who have died, while acknowledging the grief that these deaths bring.