QUINCY, Ill. (WGEM) -
Illinois Congressman Darin LaHood hosted a roundtable forum Monday in Quincy to discuss the heroin and opioid issues in the area.
Addiction has skyrocketed more than eight percent in Illinois in the past few years, and locally, it's even worse. Officials say they're seeing close to double that number in Adams County, and the epidemic has gained national attention.
LaHood referred to the prescription and heroin problem in central Illinois as an "epidemic" back in March when he announced efforts to bring this forum to Quincy and other communities.
The event was at the Oakley Lindsay Center and involved police, ambulance workers and the West Central Illinois Drug Task Force.
In the fight against heroin addiction, experts say it all boils down to one thing.
"Rehabilitation," LaHood said. "That comes down to resources."
The roundtable was part of a three-stop statewide tour to fight the growing heroin epidemic and a way for LaHood to push a half-billion dollar federal legislation plan.
"My biggest thing is this isn't just something we should throw money at," LaHood said. "We have to figure out how to get the money to the appropriate folks."
Last summer, Adams County EMS workers had to double the amount of heroin antidote they carried. Six months ago, Quincy police started carrying the antidote after two people overdosed in their custody.
"Putting someone in jail doesn't work," Chief Rob Copley said. "Sending them through a 30-day program isn't working."
Everyone agreed the need is long-term treatment, but local counselors say federal regulations restrict the amount of prescriptions doctors can give for a popular treatment called Suboxone therapy. On top of that, there aren't any local doctors licensed to prescribe it.
"I had a gentleman recently," Cornerstone Foundation for Families Mental Health Rehabilitation nurse practitioner Reggie Westhoff said. "He is wanting to become clean. We are having trouble finding opiate treatment for him."
Counselors say while the issue certainly wasn't solved Monday, at least fresh ideas are on the table.
"I think this is a good first step, but it's certainly not the only step we're going to take in this very long journey," Mayor Kyle Moore said.
So far, over one dozen federal bills have been introduced to target heroin and addiction and overdose. LaHood says the plan to provide the half-billion dollars for recovery resources should be on the president's desk by late summer.
