Illinois legislators are proposing a bill that would let drug addicts use illicit substances at “overdose prevention sites” under the supervision of medical personnel.
House Bill 2929, introduced by Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago), would require the Department of Human Services to research the possibility of following the lead of New York and Rhode Island in creating sites where drug users could use pre-obtained substances in a safe environment, and be connected with treatment services.
The bill would grant criminal immunity to people who use drugs at the proposed sites.
Ford said no tax dollars would be used in the creation of the program.
“The opioid settlement fund will be the fund that we will use if this becomes law to fund the program, so there will be no general revenue funds,” he said.
Rep. Bill Hauter (R-Morton) told the Center Square he was torn over the proposal, but ultimately voted for it.
Hellbound and Down 