SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Patrick Joyce supported a proposal that would address the rise in synthetic opioids, along with other synthetic drugs.
“Overdoses in the 40th District are on the rise – and we need to crackdown on the spread of Xylazine before more lives are lost,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “This legislation has taken years’ worth of work – and I am proud to have played a role in its passage.”
Joyce is co-sponsoring the proposal, brought by the Illinois State Police, in response to the steep increase in Xylazine-related drug overdoses reported in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported that Xylazine-related overdose deaths increased from two reported deaths in 2018, to 45 in 2020 and 155 deaths in 2021.
Senate Bill 1773 would make Xylazine a class 3 controlled substance. Xylazine, also called “tranq,” is a tranquilizer most commonly used for veterinary purposes which has been increasingly found in the illicit drug supply. According to the CDC, Xylazine is especially dangerous when combined with opioids like Fentanyl. Making Xylazine a controlled substance would raise the penalties for possessing, manufacturing or distributing the drug.
The proposal garnered the attention of members in the 40th District with Kankakee County Coroner, Robert Gessner, speaking out in support of the bill.
“A non-opioid animal tranquillizer, for which there is no antidote, is being mixed with Illinois street drugs, making the already deadly supply more dangerous,” said Gessner. “Kankakee County has had eight overdoses in the last two and a half years, and since Xylazine is not an opioid, Narcan or Naloxone cannot reverse its effect to the brain.”
Senate Bill 1773 passed the Senate on Wednesday and heads to the House for further consideration.
