Money is on the way to prevent drug deaths in Illinois.
According to a state news release, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded the State of Illinois a $3.6 million dollar grant to prevent overdose deathsrelated to prescription opioids.
This funding will support Illinois over the next four years to improve safe prescribing practices.
It is also intended to help track heroin-related deaths.
Wisconsin also received grant money from the program.
According to the CDC, nearly two million Americans abused prescription painkillers in 2013. Every day, nearly 7,000 people are treated in emergency departments for misusing these drugs.
Earlier this week… the Illinois House voted to override Governor Bruce Rauner's partial veto of a measure to battle heroin abuse. Rauner used an amendatory veto to remove expanded Medicaid coverage for medication and treatment. The legislation moves to the Senate for possible override.
