IL SR1316

Illinois recorded 3,013 opioid overdose fatalities in 2021, a 2.3% increase from 2020 and 35.8% increase from 2019, with 89% involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl

Studies show the standard 4 mg naloxone nasal spray often requires multiple doses to reverse overdoses, with 78% of surveyed overdose victims needing 2 or more doses

The FDA approved an 8 mg naloxone nasal spray in April 2021, which costs 36.7% less per milligram than the 4 mg version ($3.75/mg vs $5.93/mg)

34 states have added the 8 mg naloxone to their standing orders, and 13 state governments have purchased it; 90% of Medicaid beneficiaries nationwide can access it

Urges the Illinois Department of Human Services to review expanding its naloxone toolkit to include all FDA-approved naloxone versions to combat the opioid epidemic