Community forum on substance abuse April 19 at Rosecrance Griffin Williamson Campus

From press release

A community forum on substance abuse will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m., Monday, April 19, at Rosecrance Griffin Williamson Campus, 1601 University Drive, Rockford.

The session is open to the public and will include Rockford Mayor Lawrence J. Morrissey (I), state senators Bradley Burzynski (R) and Dave Syverson (R), state representatives David Winters (R) and Robert Pritchard (R), 17th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Janet Holmgren, Illinois Alcoholism Drug Dependence Association Chief Executive Officer Sara Howe and Rosecrance Addictions Counselor Pat Spangler.

The forum will look at funding issues facing addiction treatment services and the growing impact of heroin/opiate addiction on area communities.

In 2009, more than 100 young people in northern Illinois died as a result of a heroin overdose. Heroin addiction is one of the fastest-growing substances of abuse among teens and young, 20-something adults. Heroin and other prescription-based opiates such as Vicodin and Oxycontin are easy to get, plentiful in supply and cheap to buy.

These factors have created the “perfect storm” for abuse.

Of the estimated $4.85 billion spent annually in Illinois on issues related to substance use and addiction, only $147 million is actually spent on the prevention and treatment of substance use and addiction. By cutting addiction prevention and treatment funding 8 percent in FY11, the state will need to add an additional $280 million to cover the expenses that will be incurred by the courts, prisons, schools, hospitals, childcare, police and emergency medical services as a result.

For more information, call (815) 391-1000.