Illinois Receives $15 Million In Federal Funding To Address Opioid Crisis

The state of Illinois is set to receive an additional $15 million in federal funding to expand addiction treatment services. The money comes from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to combat the opioid crisis across the state.

The funding will help expand treatment services in areas of Illinois hardest hit by addiction, said Dani Kirby, director of division of substance use prevention and recovery at the Illinois Department of Human Services. The money will also support existing programs like the Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances, which has received more than 11,000 calls and 21,000 website visits since it launched in 2017.

Kirby said IDHS is excited to grow programs that have shown success throughout the state.

Specifically, the funding will increase access to medication-assisted treatments, which have been shown to increase a person’s chance of recovery, she said.

“These programs include outreach in hospitals and jails, as well as street-based outreach that will help us engage people who are experiencing opioid use disorders and help them connect with care,” Kirby said.

Another priority, she said, is “to continue to address the stigma related to seeking services.”

In distributing the funds, IDHS has given priority to areas hardest hit by the opioid crisis, which includes Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, St. Clair and Madison counties, Kirby said.

Since 2016, Illinois has received $82 million from the U.S. government to address the opioid crisis. The state is on track to receive another $29 million in 2020.

The new funding will also strengthen the Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program 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 opioids overdose.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a substance use disorder, the Illinois Helpline number is 1-833-2-FIND-HELP, or visit www.ILHelpLine.org. 

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