Blue Room Thursday: Ford Highlights Overdose Prevention Site Pilot Program Effort

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Emphasizing the opportunity to save lives, state Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, D-Chicago, will lead a Blue Room press conference with advocates Thursday to discuss his proposal for the Department of Human Services (DHS) to create and implement an Overdose Prevention Site pilot program.

Ford will join the Illinois Harm Reduction and Recovery Coalition in the Capitol Blue Room this Thursday, March 13 at 11:30 a.m. to discuss the plan.

“Having toured a location in New York and regularly engaged harm-reduction advocates, I’ve seen firsthand the strong, positive impact Overdose Prevention Sites can have on communities,” said Ford. “Every life we lose to an overdose hurts a family, hurts a neighborhood and hurts a community. So many areas of our state have been devastated in recent years, which is why we must take real steps forward to show that there is hope. Overdose Prevention Sites offer that hope, and a real opportunity for people to get the help and care they deserve. This should be a bipartisan effort.”

“The Illinois Harm Reduction and Recovery Coalition (IHRRC) stands with Representative Ford in affirming that ‘no life should be lost to an opioid overdose,’” said IHRRC Co-Chairs Dr. Tanya Sorrell and Chelsea Laliberte Barnes, LCSW. “While recent reports highlight the success of harm reduction efforts in lowering overall overdose deaths, disparities persist. Rural and marginalized communities—particularly Black, Latino, and Indigenous populations—continue to experience disproportionately high overdose fatalities in Illinois.

“A comprehensive solution, such as an Overdose Prevention Site, provides critical, life-saving services for people who use drugs (PWUD). These sites not only reduce overdose deaths but also alleviate strain on emergency medical services (EMS) and emergency departments (ED), ultimately saving lives and taxpayer dollars. Beyond immediate medical care, they offer access to healthcare, recovery resources, and social support—helping to rebuild trust in communities that have long faced stigma and isolation.

“By providing a judgment-free space for individuals seeking help, Overdose Prevention Sites serve as a vital bridge to hope, healing, and re-engagement in society.”

Ford’s House Bill 2929 directs DHS to establish a pilot program for Overdose Prevention Sites. Such sites are intended to save lives, reduce the spread of disease, lower the number of public injections and connect users to needed services. As Ford’s measure notes, thousands of Illinois die every year due to overdoses, many of which are preventable and involve opioids. Nearly all witnessed opioid overdoses are reversable with naloxone and emergency care, and Overdose Prevention Sites can provide immediate assistance, if necessary, while further connecting individuals with long term solutions.

For more information, please contact RepFord@LaShawnFord.com.

Who: State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, Illinois Harm Reduction and Recovery Coalition

What: Press conference in support of Overdose Prevention Site pilot program

When: Thursday, March 13; 11:30 a.m.

Where: Capitol Blue Room; Springfield, Ill.