QUINCY (WGEM) – A proposed Illinois Bill, HB5527, would provide Narcan to those leaving jail or prison who struggle with substance abuse problems to help keep them safe upon release.

Pat Tyler is the executive director of the Well House, an organization that helps women who are getting out of prison or jail overcome challenges. She said they help women who deal with substance abuse problems by taking them to clinics to get assessed to see what level of care they need, as well as help them get in contact with programs to help them stay clean.

She said it’s important they have support from the community to help keep them clean. She said having NARCAN on hand can help keep them safe if they relapse.

“Many people, they are just not sure, you know. They want to do the right thing, but that’s not always the case. We try to catch them before, you know, they go in that direction,” Tyler said.

She said they have had women relapse and they work to ensure they stay on the path and support them. She said they sometimes relapse because they will meet with old friends who use drugs, but life out of jail and prison can be hard for them.

She said they also have Narcan on hand, and it’s good to have just in case and can allow them to continue to support them and get the help they need to stay clean and complete their life goals.

Tyler said it’s important there is support for programs that help people stay clean and provide them with treatment.

Adams County Sheriff Anthony Grootens said they have NARCAN in the jail and provide treatment for prisoners suffering from substance abuse. However, when they are released, it gets difficult to track them.

Grootens said hospitals don’t have to inform them if a formerly incarcerated prisoner has overdosed. He said there have been instances where they have revived a person who overdosed, and taken them to the hospital, only for them to leave and overdose again later.

He said while having NARCAN available to help is good, there should be a focus on trying to get people long-term help to have them stay clean.

“Treatment is a better option. It’s also more expensive. If you provide someone with NARCAN, it’s a couple bucks. But if you put someone in treatment for 21 days, it’s gonna be very expensive,” Grootens said.

He said it would also be a better investment and help people get clean so they don’t overdose. He said another problem is if someone overdoses, even if they have NARCAN with them, if they are by themselves they wouldn’t be able to administer it to themselves. They would require another person to be there to administer it.

The bill has moved out of the Illinois House and is in the Illinois Senate.

If you think you need help or know of someone who needs help from the Well House, you can contact Pat Tyler at 217-617-2312 or 217-430-0500.

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