House Republicans in the Illinois House of Representative met in a capitol press conference Thursday morning to discuss what many in the state and country are calling “the current drug of choice.” The opioid crisis is a public health epidemic taking lives at an alarming rate, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and what is in the illicit drugs usually is fentanyl.
Fentanyl has become the largest driver of opioid deaths in the state. Used by medical professionals, it’s an effective, high-powered pain killer. As a hidden and bootleg additive in street drugs, it is a deadly heart-stopper.
House Republican Leader Tony McCombie(R-Savanna) is sponsoring House Bill 3203 provides that a pharmacist or retailer may sell fentanyl test strips over-the-counter to the public to test for the presence of fentanyl, a fentanyl analog, or a drug adulterant within a controlled substance.
While pointing to action taken by House Democrats during the last legislation session, McCombie stated Illinois House Republicans will oppose decriminalizing drugs and an push measures to hold criminal drug dealers accountable.
HB3203 has been given committee approval and heads to the House floor with bi-partisan support.
Attached is audio with Tony McCombie
