Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.  Illinois has seen a vast increase of overdoses of the drug and Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus outlined their plan to combat the overdose crisis.   Since 2013 synthetic opioid deaths in Illinois have increased 2,736%.  Many of those who have overdosed did not know they were taking opioid or that their drugs were laced with fentanyl.

Senator Robert Peters says that if they don’t act now, the problem will get worse.

State Senator Laura Ellman has proposed House Bill 17 and is working to combat overdose deaths by ensuring people who fall victim to the drug are able to get the necessary medical help they need.

Peters has also proposed a bill—House Bill 4556 in an effort to help people who battle opioid addiction. His bill would allow pharmacists and medical professionals to dispense drug testing supplies to any person without persecution for possessing drug testing supplies. 

In Illinois alone, opioid overdoses increased 33% from 2019-2020 with 2,944 opioid overdose fatalities in 2020.