{"id":3485,"date":"2023-08-01T08:25:28","date_gmt":"2023-08-01T13:25:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mccombieforillinois.com\/?p=3485"},"modified":"2023-08-08T08:40:55","modified_gmt":"2023-08-08T13:40:55","slug":"two-new-illinois-laws-aim-to-help-fight-opioid-addiction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mccombieforillinois.com\/2023\/08\/01\/two-new-illinois-laws-aim-to-help-fight-opioid-addiction\/","title":{"rendered":"Two new Illinois laws aim to help fight opioid addiction"},"content":{"rendered":"
(T<\/span>he Center Square) \u2013 Several pieces of legislation passed during the spring session of the Illinois General Assembly dealt with opioid overdoses, and now two more will become law.<\/p>\n Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a\u00a0measure<\/a><\/b>\u00a0Friday that amends the Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction Act and allows pharmacists and retail stores to sell fentanyl testing strips over the counter beginning Jan. 1.<\/p>\n \u201cFentanyl is a deadly drug that is taking far too many lives and as we continue to take steps to address the opioid epidemic affecting Illinois families, our priority with this legislation is to single out fentanyl,\u201d said the bill\u2019s sponsor, State Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, in March while introducing the measure.<\/p>\n According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, FTS are small strips of paper that can detect the presence of fentanyl in various drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin and drug forms like pills, powder and injectables. FTS provide people who use drugs with information about fentanyl in the illicit drug supply so they can take steps to reduce risk of overdose.<\/p>\n