Illinois Receives $15 Million From Feds For Opioid Fight

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) has secured $15 million in additional federal funding to expand opioid use disorder treatment in Illinois.

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) announced Thursday that Illinois will receive an additional $15 million from the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to combat the opioid crisis across the state. Since September 2016, Illinois has been awarded over $82 million in federal funding to expand the prevention and treatment of opioid use disorders and the response to opioid overdoses. Illinois will potentially receive another $29 million in 2020.

According to a release from IDHS, The new funding will also strengthen and enhance the Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) to continue the state's efforts to prevent the misuse of prescription opioids, and continue to support the availability of naloxone, a life-saving drug that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

"With the additional funding, we'll continue to work to ensure that all communities throughout the state have access to treatment for opioid use disorder," said IDHS Secretary Designate Grace B Hou. "Through the expansion of medication-assisted treatment, increased number of recovery homes, additional substance use treatment at local jails and hospitals and the continuation of community outreach, Illinoisans will have more access to treatment than ever before."

Since the Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances launched in December 2017, there have been over 11,000 calls and 21,000 website visits made to the Helpline. If you or someone you know is experiencing opioid use disorder or other substance use disorders, call the Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances at 1-833-2FINDHELP or visit HelplineIL.org.