Villa Hosts Community Discussion on Opioid Crisis with Local Leaders

ST. CHARLES, Ill. – To bring local leaders and elected officials together to discuss the opioid epidemic and its impact on Kane County and other surrounding communities, state Rep. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, recently partnered with Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain to host a community discussion on the opioid crisis.

“The opioid epidemic and subsequent heroin crisis has ravaged communities across the state. Bringing elected officials and other local leaders together to discuss the impacts the opioid crisis has had on our communities is critical to developing a plan to move forward and address this public health emergency,” said Villa. “Opioid addiction does not discriminate, and the epidemic reaches all corners of Illinois. I will continue working to pass meaningful policies that will address the opioid crisis in our state.”

To combat the state’s opioid crisis, Villa supported Senate Bill 1828 to establish the Needle and Hypodermic Syringe Access Program under the Department of Public Health. While needle exchange programs currently exist in several major metropolitan areas in Illinois, this measure will establish a statewide standard for needle exchange programs, expanding access to suburban and rural communities. Villa also supported House Resolution 58, which urges the Department of Public Health to adopt new guidelines for painkillers, including increased reporting to help gain a better understanding of the depth of the opioid epidemic.