Rockford Sun

As the state sees an increase in rates of drug overdoses, Illinois Democrats have proposed a bill that would decrease penalties for lethal drugs like cocaine, fentanyl and heroin.

State reps. Anne Stava-Murray (D-Downers Grove) and Janet Yang Rohr (D-Naperville) introduced House Bill 3447, which seeks to decriminalize hard drugs including fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin, Prairie State Wire reported. The bill passed the House with the support of 61 Democrats, but did not get enough votes to pass the Senate. If HB 3447 were to go into effect, people caught with up to 15 grams of cocaine would only be fined. Fines would also apply to people caught with up to 200 grams of methamphetamine, 10 grams of PCP, 10 grams of ketamine, 100 grams of oxycodone, and 50 grams of barbiturates. Penalties would increase for people caught with more than 200 grams of fentanyl. 200 grams of fentanyl is enough to kill 100,000 people.

More than 150 people died from overdoses in Winnebago County in 2020, WIFR reported. 

“The County has released some pretty staggering numbers regarding overdose deaths,” Abby Finley Marketing and Communication Director with Rockford rescue mission said, according to WIFR. “It’s going to be felt throughout our whole community if these numbers continue to rise, it’s truly a devastating issue we’re facing and there are so many broken hearts and families that are hurting."

2,944 Illinoisans died from opioid overdoses in 2020, which was a 33% increase from 2019, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Of all the drug overdose deaths in 2020, 83% involved synthetic opioids. Synthetic opioid overdose deaths increased by 2,736% from 2013 to 2020. Opioids killed more than twice as many Illinoisans as car crashes in 2020.

Rockford Sun reached out to Jonathan Ojeda, candidate for State Representative in Illinois' 68th District, for comment on House Bill 3447, but did not receive a response.