PEORIA (25News Now) -A bill in Springfield would change how fentanyl-related deaths are classified, shifting the terminology from “fentanyl overdose” to “fentanyl poisoning.”

However, the Peoria County coroner and the leader of a local agency offering harm reduction services said they’re opposed to the idea.

State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) has proposed SB3140, legislation that would amend the Illinois Coroner Code. If passed, the bill would modify the definition of a drug overdose to exclude deaths caused by fentanyl and instead classify them as fentanyl poisonings. The change would apply in any case where fentanyl is determined to be the cause of death or a contributing factor.

Rezin said the bill was created with “Angel Families” in mind, families who have lost loved ones to what they call fentanyl poisoning, meaning they unknowingly took a pill laced with fentanyl. She argues the issue is tied to illicit drugs entering the country that are contaminated with fentanyl.

“We have a problem with illicit drugs coming over the border that are laced with fentanyl, unbeknownst to the person who takes the pill and it can kill them just by ingesting one pill,” said Rezin.

“I think it’s important to be able to recognize on the death certificate exactly what happened, they were poisoned. This was not an overdose,” she continued.

Rezin said the goal of the bill is to reduce stigma, allowing families who lost loved ones to fentanyl-laced pills to speak more openly about their experiences. She cited families who have had their college aged children purchase pills to stay awake for exams and later died after unknowingly ingesting fentanyl.

“The death has been categorized as an overdose, the families are less reluctant to talk about it, because of the stigma attached, by acknowledging what truly did happen to their loved one, they were poisoned to death,” said Rezin.

Under the proposal, coroners would still make the final determination on classifications. Rezin said she is willing to work with Illinois coroners but maintains that when someone dies after unknowingly taking a fentanyl-laced pill, it should be recognized as a poisoning.

Coroner, Jolt Foundation leader weigh in

Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said the bill is another example of state legislation created without input from coroners.

“Across the board, evidence is going to tell us that the appropriate verbiage and terminology is intoxication,” said Harwood.

“With the use of the word, ”poisoning," it almost implies intent, and we only use the word, “poisoning” when we talk about carbon monoxide, particularly if someone has taken their life in a car like in a garage or something like that. But we can’t imply intent when it comes to an intoxication, because we just don’t know that part of it,” Harwood continued.

Concern about the measure also extends to harm reduction advocates, including Peoria-based JOLT Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides harm reduction services such as Narcan distribution, outreach, and overdose prevention education.

JOLT argues the proposal would not reduce stigma but instead create further division among people who use drugs.

“The language change does not change outcomes. They say it’s trying to reduce stigma. My question is reduce stigma for who?” said Chris Schaffner, executive director of the JOLT Foundation.

“Because what this does is create a two-tier system of ‘My innocent child’ who still sought out and used an illicit substance, whether they knew fentanyl was in it or not, just like those street junkies are coming because they’re bad people and they’re not innocent. But they’re still accessing a drug that they didn’t know what was in it either,” he continued.

Schaffner said he views the legislation as an attempt to shift blame in a way that may make the grieving process easier for some families.

“I get it, I lost family that I love to an overdose, and my natural reaction was to blame somebody,” said Schaffner with teary eyes.

“But when I came to the realization that the people I love still engaged in those behaviors willfully, they understood the risks, or even if they didn’t understand the risks, that isn’t because they’re nefarious, it’s because the supply is so tainted,” he continued.

Schaffner said the core issue is not terminology, but an unregulated and contaminated drug supply in the United States.

According to Schaffner, supporting families and preventing overdose deaths requires wraparound services, including harm reduction efforts such as Narcan distribution, outreach and public health interventions.

In Peoria, JOLT currently serves between 100 and 150 people through office visits and outreach efforts.

Schaffner added that criminal penalties and policy changes like SB3140 do not deter substance use.

“It’s also not just about the pragmatics of how to save lives and reduce harm, it’s about the social injustices that occur that are built into the DNA on the war on drugs, and we’re fundamentally opposed to that,” said Schaffner.

The bill must still be brought to the Senate floor before a vote is taken.

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