A comprehensive package to fight the growing problem of heroin abuse is set to become law in Illinois.
The House and the Senate have now both overridden the governor's partial veto of the bill...requiring Medicaid coverage of heroin treatment and addiction services.
Senator Dan Kotowski says we need to be fighting this drug epidemic head on.
"Illinois is 47 out of 50 states currently when it comes to providing funding for heroin addiction prevention. That is a designation we should not be proud of. Without this bill, Illinois will be the only state to reduce - and not increase - providing treatment for heroin...the only state."
The only No voter to speak during the debate was republican State Sen. Kyle McCarter of Lebanon. He objects to how the problem is being portrayed, adding you can't just throw money at things and hope they're solved.
"This issue was politicized. I know we care, but it was still politicized. I'm going to be voting no."
The problem is a personal one for McCarter, who voted to support the veto despite the fact one of his children died of a heroin overdose.
The bill also calls for more education about the dangers of the drug in schools...and requires police and fire departments to stock antidote medication in case of heroin overdoses.
