Locking pill bottles help fight addiction

As an addict, educator and community volunteer, I believe Illinois lawmakers must take drastic steps to stop the growing crisis of opiate abuse.

There is a real opportunity for legislators to do this by approving HB 3219, legislation that would mandate locking caps for painkiller prescriptions.

A California mother whose son became addicted to opiate narcotics invented these locking devices. His addiction and mine could have been prevented with locking devices on pill bottles.

For five years, I would abuse pills out of medicine cabinets, from friends and even strangers to feed my addiction. I knew what I was doing was wrong but that understanding took a back seat to my addiction.

In February of 2012, after walking out of the same rehab center twice in the same year, I decided to get busy living in recovery.

Since then, I have been working with the DuPage County Police Chiefs association to raise community awareness about prescription drug abuse and heroin. I have spoken at over 65 venues to more than 50,000 high school students and their parents.

While my message is one of hope, the fact is that painkiller addiction problems are getting worse. Drug overdose death rates in the United States have more than tripled since 1990. That's why this bill is important. Creating a deterrent from the possibility of instantly making a damaging choice would have curtailed my addiction and many others like me.

This bill, sponsored by two former prosecutors, has broad law enforcement support from county coroners and police chiefs around the suburbs.

Just like seat belts, pill-locks will not prevent every death, but they can save lives every day. I encourage you to ask your lawmaker to please vote yes on HB 3219 and help save lives.

Nick Gore

Bartlett