© 2024 WNIJ and WNIU
Northern Public Radio
801 N 1st St.
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-753-9000
Northern Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
WNIJ's summary of news items around our state.

Illinois First State To Adopt Locking Pill Bottle Legislation

BizJournals.com

A program to offer locking pill bottles for some prescriptions got the green light from Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner. But the sponsor of the plan says the lack of a state budget could cause delays.

Pharmacies that opt into the voluntary program would dispense addictive painkillers, like Vicodin, in bottles with combination locks built in. Those participating could recoup the additional cost of the bottles from the state.

But without a budget, that rebate money is not available.

Democratic Rep. Michael Zalewski, who sponsored legislation creating the program, said easy access to painkillers has sent many in the state on the path to addiction.

“Had these locking caps been available and put on these bottles, it would have been the barrier necessary to prevent these people’s families from a lot of heart ache,” Zalewski said.

Zalewski says there’s little interest from retailers so far. But he is optimistic that there will be … once a budget is approved.

“My guess is when the department has its budget and it makes the money available to retailers, you’ll see some retailers engage in the process,” Zalewski said. 

The program will be re-evaluated in a year. Illinois is the first state to adopt the idea.

Related Stories