Tom Cullerton: we cannot rest until heroin problem is eradicated

VILLA PARK- Huge strides have been made in addressing the heroin epidemic in DuPage communities, the DuPage Narcan Program (DNP) achieved a tremendous milestone on Thursday with the 100th life saved since the start of the program.

"DuPage County first responders are providing residents with an invaluable service," State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) said. "I'm proud of the work we continue to do for area residents and look forward to spreading the program's success throughout the state."

To spread the success seen with the DNP, Cullerton led the charge last year in Springfield with the passage of House Bill 1.

DuPage County introduced the first county-wide application of Narcan in the state. The DuPage County Health Department organized an effort to equip more than 2,000 people, largely local police, with Narcan at the beginning of 2014.

The legislation addresses heroin and opioid abuse and addiction in Illinois in a variety of different ways, by training public safety entities in administering Narcan, requiring state agencies to develop a three-year heroin and opioid drug prevention program and expanding state-funded treatment to include addiction treatment and prescription costs.

"This program is giving people an opportunity to seek treatment and turn their lives around," Cullerton said. "We cannot rest until this problem is eradicated from our communities. Until then we will continue to work together to end this epidemic and help people receive the necessary treatment to succeed."

Throughout the nation, fatal drug overdoses have increased six-fold over three decades, claiming 36,000 American lives every year.