SPRINGFIELD – According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, fewer than half of jails surveyed across the nation offer some form of medication for opioid use disorder, with only 12.8% making it available to anyone with the disorder. To address the lack of treatments available for incarcerated individuals in the state, State Senator Rachel Ventura advanced Senate Bill 2185 to the Senate.

“Providing these assisted treatments to incarcerated individuals will help break the cycle of addiction, encourage stability in their lives and lead to decreased rates of re-incarceration,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “We have seen this work positively in other states. With overdoses being the leading cause of death among people returning to their communities after incarceration, it is clear we need these treatments available statewide to see a difference.”

Under Senate Bill 2185, medically assisted treatments (MAT) and medication for opiate use disorder (MOUD) programs would be available in every state prison, ensuring those who are dealing with substance abuse are given proper and humane treatment.

The Illinois Department of Corrections would be required to screen every person within 24 hours of admission for substance use disorders as part of an initial and ongoing substance use screening and assessment process. If the individual screens positive as having or being at risk for an opioid use disorder, or is exhibiting symptoms of withdrawal from an opioid use disorder, they will be provided medication.

The bill is modeled after an MAT program used in Kane County Adult Justice Center since 2019, which Ventura learned about from Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain.

"We've dropped our opiate overdose deaths of formerly incarcerated by 89% for those in the medically assisted treatment program," Hain said. “This is proof that the program works and can significantly impact the incarcerated individual’s life.”

Senate Bill 2185 passed the Senate Criminal Law Committee on Tuesday.