O’FALLON – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) today hosted members of his opioid task force at his office in O’Fallon to discuss local efforts to fight the opioid epidemic ravaging our communities. Bost provided an update on legislative efforts in Congress and received feedback from law enforcement, recovery treatment experts, and representatives from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
“As a father and grandfather, it’s gut-wrenching to hear stories of personal tragedy and loss due to opioids,” said Bost. “But these aren’t isolated incidents. There were almost 2,000 opioid overdose fatalities in Illinois in 2016. That’s nearly twice the number of deaths from car accidents. These are moms and dads, sons and daughters, neighbors and friends. Receiving feedback and from local law enforcement and recovery experts is vitally important as I continue working in Congress with Republicans and Democrats to pass legislation to fight the opioid scourge. If we work together, we can save lives and continue to restore hope.”
Roundtable Participants:
Congressman Mike Bost (IL-12)
Dr. Kari Karidis, Crisis Interventionist and Recovery Support, Companion’s Companion
Dr. Andrea Taylor, Clinic Director, VAMC St. Louis
Percy Menzies, Assisted Recovery Centers of America
Detective Chris Coyne, Metro East Police Officer
Background:
In May, Bost announced his support for a legislative package of to combat the opioid crisis. More info HERE.
An online repository for legislation Congress is considering to fight the opioid crisis is available HERE.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), opioid overdoses in Illinois have increased dramatically in recent years. In 2016, there were 1,946 opioid overdose fatalities in Illinois – nearly twice the number of fatal motor vehicle accidents and more than one and a half times the number of all homicides. Much of this can be attributable to the rise of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and its analogues. Overall opioid overdose deaths increased 82% between 2013 and 2016; during that same period, overdose deaths due to synthetic opioids increased tenfold. The overall drug overdose rate in Illinois in 2016 was 18.9 per 100,000 population and ranks 28th in the country.
A comprehensive compilation of data on the opioid crisis was release by IDPH in December 2017.
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