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* From a press release, with emphasis added…

While the heroin-use crisis in Illinois and the nation continues to grow, the state is falling alarmingly far behind the rest of the country in providing treatment for users who need help in overcoming addiction, a new study by Roosevelt University shows.

A review of treatment capacity finds Illinois, in just five years, fell from 28th in the nation to 3rd worst in the nation, ahead of only Texas and Tennessee, in terms of providing publicly-funded treatment for addiction.

The study also found that in Illinois 25 percent of state funded treatment admissions were for heroin while nationally that figure was only 16 percent. Chicago and the collar counties fared even worse – 35 percent of those entering treatment reported heroin use as their reason for going. Metro East Illinois heroin admissions quadrupled during the same period and Decatur had a six fold increase. […]

The team found evidence that more youth and women in Illinois are using heroin, while those arrested in Cook County are more likely to test positive for opiates, including heroin, and more likely to self-report to authorities their use of heroin, than in any other place in the country. […]

While the study showed the proportion of treatment admissions into state-funded programs for heroin increased dramatically, particularly in the Chicago metropolitan region, Illinois’ capacity to provide such treatment was found to be in free fall, according to data for 2007-12.

In fact, Illinois ranked first in the U.S. for its 52 percent decline in treatment capacity, according to the report. The state also was found to be the least equipped in the Midwest to provide treatment for growing numbers of heroin users in need of help and it also was at the bottom of the nation in terms of having the treatment resources available to aid in their recovery.

From 2007-12, state general revenue funding dropped by nearly 30 percent, and Medicaid funding dropped by 4 percent, leaving state-funded addiction treatment in jeopardy, according to the study. What’s more, the situation is likely to continue under the state’s proposed FY 2016 budget, which includes a 61 percent cut to state-funded addiction treatment.

* Tribune…

Illinois’ heroin crisis has drawn increasing attention from government officials in recent years, and lawmakers have proposed numerous measures aimed at attacking the problem. One of the most expansive bills, the Heroin Crisis Act, was approved by both chambers in May but has yet to be signed by the governor.

Kane-Willis said that bill would be especially helpful because it would allow the state’s Medicaid program to pay for methadone, a medication used to ward off heroin cravings. The bill comes with a $15 million price tag, though, and the Illinois Department of Human Services has said it is unaffordable.

The governor needs to sign that bill.

The full research report is here.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 10:59 am

Comments

Sad way to get a number one ranking as a state

Comment by illinifan Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 11:07 am
==From 2007-12, state general revenue funding dropped by nearly 30 percent==

Good we gave all that corporate welfare to our friends, though. Lots of $ for that back then.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 11:10 am
Once we get RTW passed, everything will be easier.

Comment by How Ironic Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 11:20 am
This is upsetting. Being from a collar county, I’ve seen first hand the effects heroin has had in the communities up there. Heck, I know 6 people who I went to high school with - 4 were kids with rough backgrounds, another a great athlete, and the 6th an honors student - all died from heroin overdoses… It’s a sad day in Illinois.

Comment by The Muse Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 11:21 am
If Rauner closed down the tobacco quit line I think it just goes to follow that he couldn’t care less about folks with other life threatening addictions…no?

Comment by Loop Lady Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 11:35 am
awww man, it is so much more fun to spend money on the supply side of the equation though! /s

Comment by yo Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 11:35 am
“The governor needs to sign that bill.”

First thing you learn is that you always gotta wait.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 11:36 am
This is what happens when government is starved of revenue and the people’s money is given away in excessive corporate tax breaks–and, sadly, the current administration wants to double down on this approach. Instead of emulating Walker’s Wisconsin (where those policies have been having a negative impact in terms of job growth, per capita income, and funding for vital services), they should be looking at Minnesota’s example. Under Dayton, they’ve turned their economy around after years of mismanagement by their former governor, Pawlenty, whose approach was similar to Rauner’s. It would be great if we had leaders who could let go if their ideologies and study (and implement) what works. Sigh.

Comment by Crispy Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 11:39 am
=== In fact, Illinois ranked first in the U.S. for its 52 percent decline in treatment capacity…the proposed fiscal 16 budget would cut funding another 61% ===

Another indication of what it means to become “the most compassionate state in the nation.”

Comment by anon Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 12:02 pm
One of the steps suggested to improve this situation is absolutely right and long overdue.

“Reduce the number of marijuana users sent by the criminal justice system for state-funded treatment, which could increase treatment capacity for heroin cases by as much as 15%.”

This should be done right now. I think you might accomplish more if you blamed your own Democrats for that 15% waste and got them to change it than you will blaming Rauner. Stop with the partisan BS and do something to fix the problem. Please.

Comment by Jeff Trigg Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 12:05 pm
Is this the spot where we start wonderin’ out loud which side the 1%er’s are really on?

Comment by Anonin' Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 12:07 pm
I’m a big advocate for human services, but the service system was damaged by budget cuts under Quinn and his predecessor. Rauner doesn’t deserve any blame for what he inherited.

As far as the proposed FY16 61% cut, I think we’ve all come to accept that it wasn’t an attempt at a real budget anyway.

Comment by Earnest Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 12:16 pm
That little war in Afghanistan? Drove down the price. Gangs in Chicago have a lock on the heroin trade. On the plus side, we have no meth epidemic.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 12:27 pm
Isn’t addiction treatment one of the essential benefits required by the ACA? Anyone with insurance, which should include everyone but the undocumented, should be able to get some amount of covered care-whether private or public. Is part of the problem with the insurance companies?
It’s easy to blame state govt for everything, but there are other players in the health care market-and treatment of addiction, a disease, is part of that market. And how does Medicaid (read, the feds as well as the individual state) get away with not paying for Methadone.

Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 12:27 pm
None of this is good but be thankful its heroin and not meth because when people are high on meth they are way more aggressive and bold and the city would be way worse then it is now. I would rather have heroin the problem because then the urban areas are more relaxed.

Comment by Be happy Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 12:41 pm
Medicaid payment, or lack of payment, for methadone is purely the choice of the state. Illinois pulled coverage several years ago. There is a bill on the Gov’s desk seeking to change that.

Comment by CS Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 1:17 pm
So, the Blago-or-Quinn admin pulled Medicaid coverage for Methadone? Wonder why. Some other source of funding, perhaps?

Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 1:25 pm
“So, the Blago-or-Quinn admin pulled Medicaid coverage for Methadone?”

Wrong.

“Medicaid stopped paying for methadone treatment in the mid-1990s.” http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20131105/NEWS03/131109930/methadone-coverage-could-return-to-medicaid-menu

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 2:29 pm
But look at the money we saved! Sure we spend more on the hospital admissions and care, but we need to get rid of all these programs that help people so we can save money! Then we can get rid of min wage laws and state payroll. Then when everyone has little to no income and spending is reducded drastically in our economy and economic activity is cut off our State will thrive!

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 3:24 pm
It’s time to pay back Puerto Rico.

Give the addicts a one-way ticket to Puerto Rico.

Comment by Chicago 20 Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 4:08 pm
I once did an article on the number of hospital beds available for pregnant drug-addicted women. Wasn’t a long article — the answer was zero. Dear heaven, isn’t this something everybody could agree on — that we all benefit when drug addicts who want help can get help?

Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 4:09 pm
==the answer was zero==

Bet 10 cannoli that number is still zero. smh

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 4:18 pm
Thank you MrJM…

Comment by Loop Lady Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 5:29 pm
Prohibition does not work, period. Never has and never will. Stop the stupid war on drugs, and use the money saved for drug treatment.

Comment by Striketoo Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 6:50 pm
this white paper was submitted to the state during the prior administration for review and recieved a positive receptioin; although now a bit dated it demonstrates the economic and clinical benefits of including methadone as a medicaid payable service. http://www.scribd.com/doc/181749534/White-Paper-on-Medicaid-Coverage-for-Methadone-Treatment-for-Opioid-Dependence-pdf#scribd

Comment by CS Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:05 pm
I’ve said it before and I will say it again. Legalize Maryjane and use that money to build or fund treatment centers. Treatment centers that actually work meaning long term treatment. This 30 day bs only dries and addict out and does not solve their inner problems. We need 6 months to a year treatment centers. Using the benefits of one drug to fight other addictions and help those that truly want to get better get better. 30 days is a waste of everybody’s money and time.

Comment by Honest abe Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:52 pm
==3rd worst in the nation, ahead of only Texas and Tennessee==

Texas and Tennessee are two states Rauner suggested recently as possible examples for Illinois.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 10:37 pm
@- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 12:27 pm:

That little war in Afghanistan? Drove down the price. Gangs in Chicago have a lock on the heroin trade. On the plus side, we have no meth epidemic.============

Don’t know what part of the state you’re in, Anon, but we DO have meth problems downstate. Given the news coverage, I thought heroin was reigning supreme in DuPage County. Champaign County got a bad batch of heroin last winter; looks like it killed a few folks (including a former co-worker of mine).

Comment by Lynn S, Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 12:14 am