SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois House has approved a measure that proponents say would help combat an epidemic of heroin and prescription drug abuse.
It would require drugs combatting heroin overdoses to be dispensed more widely to those who have been trained to properly administer them. The proposal also would ask state agencies to administrator a statewide used prescription medication take back program with local agencies and departments.
The legislation passed unanimously Wednesday. It heads to the Senate.
Early resistance to the measure centered on how the state would pay for it. The state’s fiscal crisis might make it difficult to come up with money.
Rep. Lou Lang is the sponsor of the bill. The Skokie Democrat said agencies will find a way to fund it.