* Sun-Times…

More than 40 deaths in Cook County so far in 2017 have been linked to an overdose of a powerful new opioid.

Between January and early April, at least 44 deaths were attributed to acrylfentanyl, a new fentanyl analog, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. In 2016, only seven deaths were attributed to acrylfentanyl.

There may be more deaths linked to the new opioid, because toxicology tests can take several weeks, according to the medical examiner’s office. […]

Of 1,091 people in Cook County who died at least in part because of an opiate-related overdose in 2016, 562 died after using fentanyl or fentanyl analogs, according to the medical examiner’s office.

* This is what’s known as a “bootleg” drug. A bit of background…

According to the DEA, Acryl fentanyl is being manufactured overseas, smuggled into the U.S., and sold mainly on the dark web.

“We suspect China as one of the manufacturers, Canada, Mexico and the like,” said Battiste.

It’s also resistant to Narcan, which is used to revive heroin overdose patients.

* From last week…

Gov. Rick Scott signed an executive order Wednesday declaring a public health emergency in Florida due to the opioid epidemic, after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated the epidemic was nationwide.

The emergency order will allow the state to immediately receive more than $27 million in federal funding awarded Florida April 21 under the 21st Century Cures Act to fight the epidemic.

The announcement comes a day after state officials met with local leaders in Palmetto as part of a series of state-directed workshops to discuss the needs of Manatee, Palm Beach, Orange and Duval counties.

* From last month…

[State Sen. Andy Manar] blasted Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner for his budget proposal not to restore funding in the upcoming fiscal year to addiction-prevention programs.

“In Springfield, the approach lately from Governor Rauner has been to fight the heroin and prescription drug epidemic by slashing programs that deal with this problem directly. That is the opposite approach that we should be taking,” Manar said.

A Rauner spokesperson could not be reached for comment.

* Also from last month…

The 22-month state budget impasse is about to claim another victim - and it’s one that could have a devastating domino effect on the ability to treat people battling drug addictions.

The Jacksonville-based Wells Center, which provides drug abuse treatment, announced Friday it anticipates closing for good the first week of May. It serves about 500 people a year though its 32 inpatient beds and outpatient programs. It also employs 69 people.

“Having explored alternatives that may have allowed Wells Center to remain open, the Center administration and board have made the difficult decision that the Center will have to close and cease operations,” the Wells Center said in a statement.

It was an abrupt change from last month, when the center signaled its intent to stay open for another three to six months, even though it was receiving chronically late payments from the state. That decision came after Comptroller Susana Mendoza pledged to do what she could to expedite payments; her office said Friday it had provided the available state payments, about $400,000, during the last few weeks.

The Wells Center funding provided fodder for the ongoing battle between Mendoza, a Democrat, and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, who have repeatedly traded barbs over who is responsible for the state’s budget woes. This is a situation where who is at fault seems almost secondary, as the impending closure of the Wells Center is a heartbreaking illustration of how lawmakers have created a state where assisting those most in need of help is not as important as chalking up a partisan win under the Capitol dome.