CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – Illinois Republican senators have filed new legislation aimed at addressing the state’s ongoing fentanyl crisis, including reclassifying fentanyl overdoses as “poisonings” and toughening penalties for major fentanyl possessors. The bills are part of an effort to curb the rising number of fatal opioid overdoses, particularly those caused by fentanyl, which continues to plague communities across Illinois.
Senators Sally Turner, R-Beason, and Sue Rezin, R-Morris, introduced the bills, which focus on reclassifying fentanyl-related deaths and enhancing public safety measures for those caught with large quantities of the drug.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois experienced 2,855 fatal opioid-related overdoses in 2023, with fentanyl playing a significant role. The synthetic opioid, which is up to 50 times stronger than heroin, is often laced with other drugs, leading to unintentional overdose deaths.
Sen. Rezin championed Senate Bill 1283, which seeks to change the language used by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) from “overdose” to “poisoning” for fentanyl-related deaths. “When we treat fentanyl deaths as overdoses, we minimize the impact of this deadly drug,” Rezin explained. “We need to recognize the victims of fentanyl as individuals poisoned, not just another overdose statistic.”
Sen. Turner, a vocal advocate for tougher penalties, highlighted the dangers of fentanyl, noting that even a small amount could be deadly. “A packet of sugar from a restaurant, about 2 milligrams, could kill 500 people if it were fentanyl,” she said.
The issue of fentanyl’s increasing prevalence has raised concerns over the effectiveness of Narcan, an opioid overdose reversal drug. While Illinois has seen a decrease in drug overdose deaths, including those related to synthetic opioids, McLean County Coroner Kathleen Yoder pointed out that fentanyl is increasingly mixed with substances like benzodiazepines and xylazine (often called tranq), which Narcan cannot reverse. “Naloxone alone cannot solve this problem,” Yoder said, calling for a more comprehensive approach to the crisis.
The Pritzker Administration recently reported an 8.3% decrease in total drug overdose deaths in the state in 2023, along with a 9.5% drop in synthetic opioid-related deaths. Officials attribute these reductions to increased distribution of Narcan and other efforts.