LETTERS

Illinois needs to mitigate effects of opioid epidemic. Here's how to do it

Jeff Standard
Fulton County sheriff

For a safer Illinois, we must invest in our children’s wellbeing.

As a sheriff, there are many threats to public safety that my department is tasked with mitigating, and one of the most consistent issues involves responding to the effects of the opioid epidemic. I and other law enforcement leaders from "Fight Crime: Invest in Kids" believe that state decision makers must prioritize investments in research-proven programs that can prevent future opioid abuse.

Fulton County sheriff Jeff Standard

One promising solution is home-visiting programs that provide “coaching” to new and expecting parents in high-risk situations, with a variety of positive results. Among other things, these initiatives help direct parents to critical resources and have been shown to reduce abuse and neglect and encourage positive brain development in children. They are also an important resource in the fight against opioid abuse, helping parents who struggle with addiction connect to treatment and reducing the likelihood that kids will grow up to commit crimes and abuse opioids themselves.

In Illinois, we have a rare opportunity to provide new resources to these vital but underfunded services. Earlier this year, the Illinois attorney general announced our state would be receiving $760 million as part of a settlement from lawsuits against opioid distributors and manufacturers, with future settlements promising more resources. This funding will be utilized for prevention and remediation efforts. I urge state decision makers currently working to determine where to allocate this funding to consider the long-term benefits of programs focused on assisting children and parents, like home visiting. These research-proven initiatives help kids and lead to long-term reductions in crime.

Jeff Standard is the Fulton County sheriff and a member of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois, a group of 320 police chiefs, sheriffs, and prosecutors in Illinois focused on supporting public safety by improving outcomes for children.