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WNIJ's summary of news items around our state.

New Law Addresses Illinois Heroin Epidemic

State of Illinois

A major anti-heroin initiative is now law in Illinois. It happened yesterday, when the state Senate voted to override Governor Bruce Rauner's veto of parts of the proposal.

Activist Chelsea Laliberte or Arlington Heights -- whose brother died of an overdose at age 20 -- waited years for the changes.

"When you watch peoples' lives crumble because they can't get treatment — or they can't get the appropriate level of treatment — and instead they get incarcerated, or they're in an emergency room, or they die? It's very devastating to witness," Laliberte said.

The law allows greater access to medicine that can counter an overdose. It's also meant to make it easier for people to get treatment through special drug courts.

"This issue didn't become mainstream, unfortunately, until it hit upper middle class white people,” Laliberte said. “I hate to say it like that, but that really is what ended up happening."

Rauner vetoed an expansion of treatment for low-income individuals, saying Illinois could not afford it. But Republicans and Democrats joined together to expand the program.

Brian Mackey formerly reported on state government and politics for NPR Illinois and a dozen other public radio stations across the state. Before that, he was A&E editor at The State Journal-Register and Statehouse bureau chief for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.
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