Illinois has been particularly impacted by the opioid epidemic currently happening globally. For this reason, SUPR is firmly committed to addressing this issue through prevention, education, and treatment. Below you will find links to our resources and current efforts. Check back often, as we are adding additional materials and programs frequently. If you need help, call 1-833-2FINDHELP.
- On March 21, 2022 Governor J.D. Pritzker released the second State Overdose Action Plan (SOAP) (pdf) in response to the Opioid Crisis. The Opioid Crisis has and continues to change over time, and we continue to put new initiatives in place to address new challenges. But what we have right now is an overdose epidemic. To save lives, we need to reach out to and engage individuals who are at risk for both fatal and non-fatal overdose due to multiple drugs: synthetic opioids, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other substances. IL has the Statewide overdose action plan that includes new efforts to address the changing nature of the overdose crisis and builds on prior progress in stopping overdoses and saving lives.
- On September 6, 2017, the first State Opioid Action Plan was released along with Executive Order (EO) 2017-05, establishing the Governor's Opioid Prevention and Intervention Task Force (Task Force). The SOAP forms the strategic framework for addressing the opioid epidemic in Illinois, setting a statewide goal of reducing opioid-related deaths by one-third in three years and formulating a set of evidence-based strategies to achieve this goal. The SOAP focuses on efforts falling into three pillars:
- Prevention: preventing people from using opioids
- Treatment and Recovery: providing evidence-based treatment and recovery services to Illinois citizens with opioid use disorder (OUD)
- Response: avoiding death after overdose
- The 2017 EO directed the Task Force to collaborate with the Illinois Opioid Crisis Response Advisory Council (the Council), the statewide opioid stakeholder group, to formulate a detailed Implementation Report with specific activities and metrics for the execution of the strategies set forth in the SOAP, which was released in May 2018.
- Then, in 2020, Governor Pritzker released a new Executive Order (EO 2020-02), establishing a Steering Committee, pulled from the membership of the Council, to provide leadership for ongoing activities and new approaches to strengthen the state's commitment to ending the opioid epidemic. One new approach is the Overdose Prevention Site Community Engagement project, focused on engaging highly impacted communities in an overdose reduction strategy. The project details the results of the process. The Advisory Council released an updated Implementation Report in January 2020 that aligns activities and metrics with EO 2020-02 for the continued execution of the strategies set forth in the SOAP and new activities announced in the Executive Order.
- In April of 2020, SAMHSA changed requirements to prescribe buprenorphine so that prescribers who are state licensed and registered by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to prescribe controlled substances are no longer required to obtain the certification requirements related to training, counseling and other ancillary services. Prescribers must still submit a Notification of Intent to SAMHSA prior to prescribing. IDHS/SUPR has created a summary document (pdf) to facilitate the quick dissemination and reference of the SAMHSA guidance.
- Illinois Response to the Opioid Epidemic The opioid crisis has manifested itself in the form of multiple public health problems. An analysis of the nature and extent of these problems provides evidence of the seriousness of the opioid crisis in Illinois, the widespread prevalence of these problems across our state, and the existence of populations and local areas with the most critical gaps in services.
- IDHS/SUPR has received Federal grant funding to address the opioid crisis in Illinois . Find information on the prevention, treatment, and recovery support programs and services we are implementing with Opioid State Targeted Response (STR), State Opioid Response (SOR) , and other federal funds.
- Drug Overdose Prevention Program (DOPP)- For information about the life saving drug naloxone, and how to access it.
- Medication Assisted Treatment Overview - Learn about the current treatment that is considered best practice as well as resources for professionals and family/friends.
- Opioid Advisory Council- An interdepartmental council to prevent and reduce opioid misuse and overdoses and gain an understanding of the existing efforts and initiatives occurring statewide to address the opioid crisis, identify gaps, promote evidence-based strategies and policies designed to combat this public health and safety crisis, and to support the development of a comprehensive strategic plan.
- Smart Alerts- Check here often for news about our expanding efforts to combat the opioid epidemic as well as funding opportunities for providers.
- Resources
- Como Obtener la Ayuda Correcta (pdf)
- Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances: The Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances is the only statewide, public resource for finding substance use treatment and recovery services in Illinois. The Helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 833-2FINDHELP.
HelplineIL.org
Illinois Opioid Campaign Poster Order Forms (pdf)
Helpline Materials Order Site
