Illinois bill would allow addicts to use drugs legally at ‘overdose prevention sites’

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois legislators are proposing a bill that would let drug addicts use illicit substances at “overdose prevention sites” under the supervision of medical personnel.

House Bill 2929, introduced by Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago), would require the Department of Human Services to research the possibility of following the lead of New York and Rhode Island in creating sites where drug users could use pre-obtained substances in a safe environment, and be connected with treatment services.

The bill would grant criminal immunity to people who use drugs at the proposed sites.

Ford said no tax dollars would be used in the creation of the program.

“The opioid settlement fund will be the fund that we will use if this becomes law to fund the program, so there will be no general revenue funds,” he said.

Rep. Bill Hauter (R-Morton) told the Center Square he was torn over the proposal, but ultimately voted for it.

“The law and order and conservative part of me hated it because of the usual reasons, but I just looked at this as a physician, and we’ve got to do something different,” said Hauter. “Most of these people are not trying to get high anymore, they just don’t want to withdraw, and so if we can get them on naloxone, these places might be the place where they can get treatment and get on the road to recovery”

The bill passed the Mental Health and Addiction Committee and is now headed to the House for consideration.