♪ ♪ >>> WELCOME TO AT ISSUE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M H WAYNE WILSON.

THERE ARE ABOUT 20 MILLION AMERICANS, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE, WHO ARE COPING WITH SOME SORT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN AMERICA.

ON A MORE LOCAL LEVEL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

EVERY DAY IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, AN AVERAGE OF SIX PEOPLE DIE FROM AN OVERDOSE.

WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

AND ONE THING WE'RE OVERLOOKING IS ANOTHER PANDEMIC.

SOME PEOPLE CALL IT A PANDEMIC.

WHATEVER TERM YOU WANT TO USE.

IT'S THE OPIOID PROBLEM.

AND IT IS A REAL PROBLEM.

IT IS NOT GOING AWAY.

IT JUST HASN'T GOTTEN MUCH ATTENTION.

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE IT SOME ATTENTION FOR THE NEXT HALF-HOUR WITH THREE INDIVIDUALS HERE IN THE STUDIO AND ONE JOINING US BY WAY OF ZOOM.

LET ME INTRODUCE TO YOU FIRST JERRY STORM.

JERRY IS THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE PHARMACY SERVICES AT OSF HEALTHCARE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, JERRY.

ALSO WITH US, BRANDON UNDERWOOD.

BRANDON IS A CLINICAL SUPERVISOR AT GATEWAY FOUNDATION.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND DR. TED BENDER IS HERE.

HERE'S PRESIDENT OF UNITY POINT HEALTH UNITY PLACE.

AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT UNITY PLACE IN JUST A MOMENT.

AND ALSO JOINING US IN BLOOMINGTON IS MICHAEL DONOVAN, THE DIRECTOR OF COURT SERVICES IN McCLAIN COUNTY.

MICHAEL, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> I'D LIKE TO START FIRST WITH JUST A DEFINITION AND MAYBE I CAN TURN TO DR. BENDER, JUST OUTS.

WHEN WE SAY -- OIPTS OPIATES.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> OPIATES ARE A CLASS OF DRUGS THAT ARE MOST COMMONLY RECOGNIZED BY HEROIN, BUT YOU ALSO HEAR A LOT ABOUT PRESCRIPTION PAIN PILLS THAT HAVE FLOODED THE STREETS.

AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS WHICH ARE MAN MADE IN THE LABORATORY, FENTANYL, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HEARD OF, WHICH HAS BEEN THE DRIVING FORCE OF THE CURRENT OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF FENTANYL IN JUST A MOMENT.

BUT I WANT TO TALK FURTHER ABOUT HOW BAD IS THE PROBLEM.

YOU'RE IN THE PHARMACY OSF.

WHAT'S YOUR OPINION ON WHERE WE ARE WITH THIS PARTICULAR CRISIS?

>> LOOKING AT WHAT THE CDC HAS RECENTLY PUT OUT, ALL THE GAINS WE MADE IN 2019, WE HAVE LOST.

AND EXCEEDED THE NUMBER OF OVERDOSES GOING THROUGH MARCH OF LAST YEAR, THE PREVIOUS 12 MONTHS.

THE EPIDEMIC HAS CREATED ISOLATION.

IT'S MADE RECOVERING OPIOID USE, DISORDER.

PATIENTS HAVE DIFFICULTY GETTING SUPPORT STRUCTURE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T MEET IN PUBLIC MEETINGS.

IT PUTS THEM IN ISOLATION AND THEY TRY TO USE DRUG OR -- DRUGS OR AN EASY GATEWAY THAT THEY'RE HAVING THAT THEY HAVEN'T SOCIALIZE OR SEE PEOPLE TO DISCUSS THROUGH.

>> DR. BENDER, UNITY PLACE, TAKES DIRECT -- DIRECT INFLUENCE OR DIRECT DEALING WITH THESE PEOPLE.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING NOT IN NUMBERS BUT WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN TERMS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE ADDICTED TO THESE TYPES OF DRUGS?

>> LIKE JERRY WAS SAYING, YOU'VE TAKEN THE WORST POSSIBLE COMBINATION FROM SOMEONE WHO'S SUFFERING FROM AN ADDICTION OR IS IN EARLY RECOVERY, WHICH IS ISOLATION AND ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.

WE HAD BOTH OF THOSE WAY MORE THAN WE'VE EVER EXPERIENCED BECAUSE OF THE COVID PANDEMIC.

SO NOW YOU PUT THOSE TWO THINGS TOGETHER, WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH THE MOST TOXIC RECIPE THAT YOU CAN HAVE FOR SOMEONE WHO'S SUFFERING FROM AN ADDICTION.

YOU ISOLATE THEM, THEY'RE AWAY FROM THEIR RECOVERY COMMUNITY.

YOU HAVE TO GO COMPLETELY ONLINE, WHICH DIDN'T RAMP UP RIGHT AWAY, ALTHOUGH NOW IT'S PRETTY GOOD.

BUT YOU'VE TAKEN THEM OUT OF THAT ISOLATION.

YOU'VE ISOLATED THEM AT HOME AND A LOT OF THEM LOST THEIR JOBS.

ECONOMIC DOWNTURN IS ONE OF THE GREATEST PREDICTORS OF MENTAL HEALTH DISASTER AND SUICIDEIALTY AND IT'S NO SURPRISE WE'RE SEEING AN UPPICK IN OVERDOSE DEATH.

>> THE DOCTOR MENTIONED THE DOCTOR WE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

YOU SEE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH SOME OF THESE PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME IN, NOT ONLY ARE THEY ADDICTED TO A PARTICULAR DRUG, MENTAL HEALTH, ALCOHOLISM, WHAT HAVE YOU.

>> YEAH.

I THINK THAT WHAT YOU SEE OFTENTIMES IF NOT THE MAJORITY IS THAT IN ADDITION TO THE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER ISSUES, WHATEVER SUBSTANCE AND IN MANY CASES COMBINATION OF SUBSTANCES THAT SOMEBODY IS USING, THERE'S ALSO AN UNDERLYING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE THAT IS NOT BEING TREATED AS WELL.

IT MAY BE DEPRESSION.

IT MAY BE ANXIETY.

IN SOME CASES IT MAY BE BIPOLAR DISORDER, SCHIZOPHRENIA, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.

SO IN A LOT OF CASES, YOU SEE PEOPLE REALLY NEEDING HELP AND TREATMENT WITH BOTH ISSUES ON THE MENTAL HEALTH SIDE AND ALSO ON THE SUBSTANCE USE SIDE.

>> MICHAEL, OVER McCLAIN COUNTY, YOU DEAL WITH -- IF I MAY USE THE TERM, ALTERNATIVE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING TO COURT.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN TERMS OF THE TYPE OF PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE DRUG COURT OVER THERE?

>> YEAH, WE'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A COUPLE DIFFERENT SPECIALIZED COURTS.

WE HAVE A RECOVERY COURT, WHICH IS A MENTAL HEALTH COURT AND A DRUG COURT, SO WE CAN ADDRESS BOTH THE ISSUES, WHETHER THEYING DUAL DIAGNOSIS OR JUST SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN GENERAL.

WE'VE ACTUALLY SEEN IN OUR COUNTY A DOWNTURN IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH THE OPIOID ISSUES AND SEEN A RISE IN SOME OTHER DRUGS.

BUT WE'RE -- WE'RE DOING THINGS DIFFERENT DURING THE PANDEMIC TO TRY TO GET IN FRONT OF THINGS AND TO HELP PEOPLE BEFORE THEY RELAPSE AND THOSE PEOPLE IN OUR PROGRAM.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO BE A LOT MORE PRO-ACTIVE THAN WE USED TO BE.

INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR A DRUG TEST TO COME BACK POSITIVE, WE'RE TRAINING PEOPLE ON HOW TO IDENTIFY THAT RELAPSE BEFORE IT HAPPENS, SO WE'RE NOT PUTTING OUT FIRES ALL THE TIME.

>> BRANDON, DO YOU SEE A TURN DOWN IN AT LEAST CERTAIN THINGS AND TURNING TO OTHER TYPES OF DRUGS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN I STARTED AT GUYWAY FOUNDATION -- GATEWAY FOUNDATION NOW THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, THE THE VAST MAJORITY OF VIOLENCE, THEIR DRUG OF CHOICE WAS SOME OPIATE.

AND NOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING TO THAT POINT IS A DOWNTURN IN OPIATES PINK THE PRIMARY DIAGNOSIS.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN AS AN INCREASE IN METHAMPHETAMINE USE IN TASWELL COUNTY AND COUNTING -- AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

WHILE I THINK THAT A LOT HAS BEEN DONE TO ADDRESS IN A POSITIVE WAY THE OIPT -- OPIATE EPIDEMIC, A LOT OF TIMES WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS PEOPLE SWITCHING TO OTHER SUBSTANCES.

AND METHAMPHETAMINE SEEMS TO BE THE PRIMARY ONE THAT I'M SEEING IN CLINICAL PRACTICE GEES.

>> -- .

>> I WANT TO TALK JERRY, EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMEONE WHO IS TAKING AN OPIATE AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY OVERDOSE, AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY'RE ON METH, BECAUSE IF I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY, STRAIGHT METH YOU CANNOT OVERDOSE.

>> NO.

THEY -- WITH STRAIGHT METH, WHAT CAUSES THE DEATH IS A HEART ATTACK, STROKE, BECAUSE IT CAUSES SEVERE -- IT CAUSES HYPERTENSION.

WITH OPIOIDS IT'S THE OPPOSITE.

IT'S NOT -- IT'S GOING TO CAUSE RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION AND SO WHAT THEY'LL DO IS THEY'LL STOP BREATHING BUT THE HEART KEEPS BEATING AT LEAST FOR A WHILE.

AND THAT'S THE REASON NARCAN IS EFFECTIVE, BECAUSE IT'S ABLE TO VE VERSE -- REVERSE THE OPIOID -- IT BLOCK THAT IS RECEPTOR THAT RECEIVES THAT OPIOID AND THAT'S THE REASON YOU'RE ABLE TO RECOVER THEM.

NARCAN IS NOT GOING TO HELP A METHAMPHETAMINE OVERDOSE.

>> IT'S TALK ABOUT NARCAN OR NALOXONE.

TO PEOPLE OVER IN TASWELL COUNTY USE THIS WHEN -- FIREFIGHTERS, WHOEVER THE FIRST RESPONDER IS, ARE THEY USING THAT WITH EFFECTIVENESS?

>> YEAH.

A LOT OF FIRST RESPONDERS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I KNOW DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY HAVE BEEN SAVED OR HAD SOMEONE -- SAVED SOMEONE ELSE THROUGH USE OF NARCAN.

I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW IS THAT MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE INSURANCE COMPANIES, WHETHER THEY BE PRIVATE INSURANCE OR GOVERNMENT INSURANCE, NOW OFFER NARCAN OFTENTIMES FREE OF CHARGE.

YOU CAN GET TWO KITS A YEAR.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY.

SO THERE ARE PEOPLE WALKING THE STREETS, SO TO SPEAK, THAT JUST HAVE IT IN THEIR CAR OR ON THEIR -- IN THEIR PURSE OR ON THEIR PERSON SOMEHOW IN CASE THAT IS EVER NEEDED.

>> SO, DR. BENDER, NARCAN IS THE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.

>> YES.

>> FIREFIGHTERS OR FIRST RESPONDER WILL USE NARCAN TO BRING THEM OUT OF THIS PROBLEM WHERE THEY'RE NOT BREATHING.

BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT LONGER TERM.

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO HELP GET PEOPLE OFF OF THE OPIOIDS?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AND NARCAN IS EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE.

BUT IT'S NOT -- YOU KNOW, DELIVER NARCAN AND YOU'RE GOOD.

IT'S HOSPITAL TIME FOR SURE AFTER A NARCAN DELIVERY.

WE JUST DONATED 4,000 KITS TO THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE.

NOW THEY'RE ABLE TO CARRY TWO DOSES OF NARCAN WITH THEM AT ALL TIMES INSTEAD OF ONE DOSE, WHICH IS ABOUT WHERE THEY WERE AT, BECAUSE OFTEN TWO DOSES ARE NEEDED TO REVERSE THIS.

YOU'RE HITTING ON A VERY IMPORTANT POINT.

IF YOU EXPERIENCE AN OPIOID OVERDOSE AND YOU GET SAVED BY THE LIFESAVING DRUG NARCAN, YOU HAVE HIT A POINT WHERE YOU ARE EXTREMELY HIGH RISK FOR ANOTHER OVERDOSE.

AND TREATMENT OFTEN LONG-TERM TREATMENT IS ABSOLUTELY WARRANTED IN THAT SITUATION.

AND PEOPLE NEED TO SEEK TREATMENT IF THEY WANT TO INCREASES THEIR CHANCES OF SURVIVAL.

>> MICHAEL, OVER IN McCLAIN COUNTY, PEOPLE USING MARK CAN OVER THERE AND -- NARCAN OVER THERE AND WHAT IS THE PROCESS WITH YOUR DRUG COURT IN TERMS OF ANY MEDICATIONS?

>> WE DO HAVE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, ALL ARE CARRYING THE NARCAN.

MY RESPONSIBLE IS A FIRST RESPONDER WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

AND THEY PICK IT UP EVERY DAY WHEN THEY LEAVE OUT.

WE HAVEN'T ISSUED IT YET.

WE -- OUR PROGRAM HAS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS -- I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS 30 YEARS AND WE'VE MADE THAT MOVE TO ACCEPT MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT, WHICH I THINK ESPECIALLY FOR OUR OPIOID ADDICTED -- ADDICTED PEOPLE, HAS BEEN A HUGE GAME CHANGER.

THAT WE'VE GOT THE -- THE COURT ACCEPTS IT, THE TREATMENT PEOPLE ACCEPT IT, AND THE TEAM ACCEPT ITSELF USE OF THAT AND WE -- ACCEPTS THE USE OF THAT.

AND THEN YOU CAN GET SOMEBODY -- WEAN THEM OFF THE HEROIN IF THAT'S THEIR DRUG OF CHOICE AND THEN COMBINE THAT WITH AN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT PROGRAM TO MAYBE MAKE SOME TYPE OF LONG-TERM STABILITY.

>> JERRY, I'D LIKE YOU TO CONTINUE IN THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE MEDICAL ASSISTED PROGRAM.

>> LIKE MICHAEL SAID, MEDICAL PATIENTS STAND A MUCH STRONGER CHANCE OF SUCCESS WITH MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENTS.

THE GOLD STANDARD HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN METHADONE, BUT NOW THERE'S SABOXONE THAT'S USED QUITE FREQUENTLY.

YOU HAVE ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE CENTER CHANGED THE LAWS REGARDING WHO CAN PRESCRIBE SABOXONE.

BEFORE YOU HAD A PHYSICIAN HAD TO GET A WAIVER THE GO ALONG WITH THEIR DEA LICENSE.

THEY'VE NOW CHANGED IT SO THAT A PATIENT COMES IN, SAY, INTO THE E.D., AND THEY HAD THEIR OVERDOSE REVERSED BECAUSE -- AND GOTTEN MY LOXONE.

A -- NILE LOXON.

A LOT OF TIMES THE PATIENT GO HOME.

NOW AN E.D.

PHYSICIAN CAN START ON SABOXONE, PRESCRIBE ENOUGH TO BRIDGE THEM UNTIL THEY CAN ACTUALLY GET INTO A TREATMENT PROGRAM, LIKE GATEWAY, OR ANY OTHER TREATMENT PROGRAM THAT'S AROUND.

AND PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN ALSO CAN PRESCRIBE AND CARE FOR THE PATIENTS AND THEY CAN PRESCRIBE FOR ABOUT -- AND CARE FOR 30 PATIENTS BEFORE THEY HAVE TO GET A WAIVER TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.

SO IT ALLOWS ACCESS -- QUICKER ACCESS TO BE ABLE TO -- M.A.

T. PROGRAMS SO THEY CAN GET INTO -- BRIDGES THAT GAP.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THESE TREATMENT PROGRAMS FIRST WITH DR. BENDER.

EXPLAIN ABOUT UNITY PLACES, BUT WHAT IS A TREATMENT PROGRAM?

AND I KNOW THAT EVERY PERSON IS INDIVIDUAL.

THEIR NEEDS ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

BUT IS THERE A PROTESTER COL OF SORTS?

>> -- PROTOCOL OF SORTS?

>> YES, THERE'S MULTIPLE LEFS OF TREATMENT -- LEVELS OF TREATMENT.

IF YOU'RE ACTIVELY USING HEROIN OR ALCOHOL ON A DAILY BASIS OR YOU'RE A VERY SEVERE USE, YOU TYPICALLY START OFF ON AN INPATIENT SETTING, WHETHER THAT'S A DETOX PROTOCOL OR RESIDENTIAL SETTING, BUT USUALLY INPATIENT.

IF YOUR DRUG USE ISN'T AS SEVERE, IT'S PART TO START ON AN OUTPATIENT BASIS, INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAMS.

AND DEPENDING ON YOUR SEVERITY AND ON YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS.

FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE GRIPS OF SEVERE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, USUALLY YOU START OFF WITH INPATIENT AND THE MINIMUM RECOMMENDATION ACCORDING TO RESEARCH IS ABOUT 90 DAYS.

THAT'S THE MINIMUM RECOMMENDATION.

UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO'S SUFFERING FROM AN OPIOID USE DISORDER, WHICH IS THE MAIN TOPIC WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, 90-DAY MINIMUM IS WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED AND OFTENTIMES A YEAR TO A YEAR AND A HALF IN A PROGRAM OF RECOVERY FOR OPTIMAL LONG-TERM SURVIVAL RATES.

>> IS THERE FOLLOW-UP?

LET'S SAY THEY GO THROUGH A 90-DAY PROGRAM.

BUT WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH RELAPSING.

>> YEAH.

>> IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

HOW DO YOU FOLLOW UP ON THESE?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, TREATMENT CENTERS THAT HAVE THE FULL SPHEK TRUM OF SERVICES OFTEN -- SPECTRUM OF SERVICES OFTEN ARE FOLLOWING UP PRETTY REGULARLY EVEN AFTER THEY'VE LEFT THE PROGRAM.

SOME PROGRAMS HAVE ALUMNI PROGRAMS THAT CONTINUE TO TOUCH BASE.

BUT THE TOOLS WITH MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT, THESE ARE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE IN THE TOOLBOX NOW THAT ARE ADDED TO OFFER IN ADDITION TO THE TRADITIONAL TREATMENT SETTINGS FOR -- WHICH ARE USUALLY COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL BASED AND THESE ADDITIONAL TOOLS ARE IMPROVING SURVIVABILITY RATES.

M.A.

T. HAS BEEN SHOWN THE DRUGS HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO HAVE THE MORTALITY RATE.

SO 50% REDUCTION IN MORTALITY FOR PEOPLE ON THESE DRUGS.

SO IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE THAT WE'RE MAKING IT MORE ACCESSIBLE.

RIGHT IN THE E.D., IF YOU COME IN IN AN OVERDOSE, YOU SHOULD GET THAT PRESCRIPTION IMMEDIATELY AND NOW THAT CAN HAPPEN.

>> OVER AT GATEWAY FOUNDATION, WHAT'S THE PROTOCOL THERE?

>> SO GATEWAY FOUNDATION HAS THE ENTIRE GAMUT, SO TO SPEAK.

IN MY SITE WE'RE STRICTLY OUTPATIENT.

SO A LOT OF OUR CLIENTS WHO ARE IN NEED OF RESIDENTIAL OR INPATIENT TREATMENT START THAT AT OUR -- EITHER OUR SPRINGFIELD OR JACKSONVILLE LOCATIONS.

AND THEN IF THEY'RE FROM THIS AREA, AND THEY COMPLETE RESIDENTIAL, THEY'RE STEPPED DOWN TO, WHETHER SITES PHP OR IOP, AND CONTINUE THEIR TREATMENT ON AN OUTPATIENT BASIS.

I THINK TO THE POINT THAT WAS MADE A MINUTE AGO, ONE OF THE THINGS I STRESS WITH EVERY CLIENT WHO COMES IN IS THAT GATEWAY FOUNDATION IS A TREATMENT CENTER THAT HAPPENS TO OFFER MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT.

NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

AND IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT HAS HELPED, BUT THAT THE HIGHEST SUCCESS RATES ARE WHEN THOSE MEDICATIONS ARE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH TRADITIONAL THERAPY APPROACHES.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT GATEWAY BELIEVES IN WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

>> AND YOU HAVE A PROGRAM AT THE TASWELL COUNTY JAIL?

>> WE DO.

IT WAS INITIALLY STARTED AGAIN AS ANOTHER RESPONSE TO THE OPIOID CRISIS.

THAT IF SOMEONE IS INCARCERATED FOR A DRUG RELATED CRIME, THEY HAVE BEEN USING OIPTIATS -- OPIATES, THEY CAN GET A VIVITROLL INJECTION, WHICH IS AN OPIATE-BLOCKER SO IF SOMEONE USES OPIATES, THEY DON'T GET HIRE OR -- HIGH OR FEEL THE EFFECTS OF THAT HIGH SIMULTANEOUS.

-- HIGH.

SIMULTANEOUSLY, IT'S BEEN SHOWN TO ELIMINATE PHYSIOLOGICAL CRAVINGS FOR THE DRUG.

AND THE IDEA IS THEY'RE GIVEN THAT VIVITROLL INJECTION, THAT MUSCULAR INJECTION, BEFORE THEY'RE RELEASED FROM JAIL.

SO THAT THEY'RE NOT HITTING THE STREETS AGAIN CRAVING OPIATES.

AND THEN WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE JAIL.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE A STAFF MEMBER IN THE JAIL WHO THEN TRIES TO FACILITATE THEM GETTING INTO WHETHER IT BE RESIDENTIAL OR OUTPATIENT TREATMENT IMMEDIATELY.

>> MICHAEL, IN McCLAIN COUNTY, WHAT'S THE DRUG COURT PROCEDURE?

>> IT -- IT STARTS WITH THE JAIL BASICALLY AS A REFERRAL PROCESS.

WE HAVE TEAM MEMBERS THAT WORK AS PART OF THE JAIL SERVICE STAFF.

AND IF SOMEBODY COMES INTO OUR JAIL AND THEY ARE IDENTIFIED AS HAVING A SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUE, THEY CAN GET REFERRED DIRECTLY FROM THERE AT THE POINT OF ARREST AND IT GETS DIRECTLY REFERRED SIMULTANEOUSLY TO THE STATE'S ATTORNEY AND TO MY PROBLEM SOLVING COORDINATOR, SO WE CAN EXPEDITE THE PROCESS.

USUALLY IN ABOUT 30 DAYS WE CAN HAVE SOMEBODY FROM -- THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS AND INTO THE DRUG COURT PROGRAM OR THE RECOVERY COURT PROGRAM IF THE ASSESSMENT -- WE HAVE A PROVIDER IN BLOOMINGTON, CHESTNUT, THAT DOES ALL OF OUR ASSESSMENTS FOR THE PROGRAMS.

>> CHESTNUT HEALTH SYSTEM, YES.

>> CORRECT.

>> I WANT TO PUT ANOTHER NUMBER TO PUT PERSPECTIVE ON HOW BAD THIS SITUATION IS IN OUR COUNTRY.

JERRY, WE KNOW THAT OVERDOSES ARE KILLING MORE PEOPLE THAN GUN DEATHS BY FAR.

MORE THAN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS BY FAR.

WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS, THE MOST RECENT NUMBERS THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF?

>> MOST RECENT I'VE SEEN FROM THE CDC WEBSITE WAS WE'RE AT OVER 81,000 OVERDOSE GOING THROUGH MARCH OF THIS PAST YEAR.

THE 12 PREVIOUS MONTHS.

WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF THE SLOITIONZ, I -- ISOLATION, I SUSPECT IT WILL BE EVEN MORE THAN THAT.

LAST YEAR IT WAS ONLY ABOUT 71,000.

SO WE'RE ALREADY EXCEEDED THAT NUMBER.

>> WHEN YOU SAY ONLY 71,000, THAT'S A SCARY NUMBER.

>> RIGHT.

AND ILLINOIS, FROM WHAT THE CDC HAD ON THE WEBSITE, WAS THERE'S A 29% INCREASE IN OVERDOSES.

>> I WANT TO TURN TO MARIJUANA.

WE HAVE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

YOUR OPINION, DR. BENDER, OF WHETHER THAT'S A GOOD THING OR A BAD THING WITH REGARD TO OUR CRISIS?

>> I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THAT DATA AS CLOSELY AS I CAN AND I HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN A LOT OF COMPELLING DATA JUSTEST, ESPECIALLY -- JUST YET, ESPECIALLY IN ILLINOIS BECAUSE IT'S SO NEW.

THE ONLY DATA COMES FROM COLORADO.

SOME OF THE DATA IN COLORADO SUGGESTS THAT THE CRIME RATE HAS INCREASED.

IT DIDN'T SHOW THAT MORE PEOPLE WERE NOW SMOKING MARIJUANA BECAUSE IT'S LEGAL.

IT DOESN'T SHOW INCREASES IN DRUG USE BECAUSE OF THE LEGAL ASPECT OF IT.

BUT CRIME RATES INCREASING IS SOMETHING TO BE CONSIDERED.

AND IT WAS TO THE POINT I BELIEVE THAT THE COLORADO GOVERNOR WAS EVEN THINKING ABOUT REVERSING IT.

>> BRANDON, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH MARIJUANA, IF IT'S ON THE BLACK MARKET, WE KNOW IF YOU GO TO A DISPENSARY, YOU'RE PRETTY SAFE.

BUT ON THE BLACK MARKET, THAT COULD BE LACED WITH FIN.

>> IT'S VERY -- FENTANYL.

>> IT'S VERY CONCERNED TO ME AND I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I'M VERY CAUTIOUS WITH CLIENTS WHO ARE GETTING TREATED FOR ONE SUBSTANCE AND THINKING THAT SWITCHING TO MARIJUANA IS GOING TO BE SORT OF LIKE THE SAFER ALTERNATIVE.

I HAVE SEEN FENTANYL BEING LACED IN A VARIETY OF DRUGS.

METHAMPHETAMINE PRIMARILY.

BUT ALSO CANNABIS.

AND IF PEOPLE ARE BUYING IT ON THE STREETS BECAUSE IT IS CHEAPER THAN GOING TO A DISPENSARY, THEY COULD FIND SOMETHING THAT IS LACED AND BE IN REAL TROUBLE.

>> IN TERMS OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, JERRY, WE'VE HAD A CHANGE SINCE THE 1990s, LET'S SAY, IN TERMS OF WHEN I HAD -- I'LL JUST PICK A KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY.

THERE'S PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

I WANT TO BE PAIN-FREE.

THIS IS THE 19 90S.

WE'RE TAKING A DIFFERENT TACT.

>> PROVIDERS ARE BEING EDUCATED BECAUSE BACK IN THE '80S, YOU ALWAYS HAD THE FIFTH VITAL SIGN OF NOBODY SHOULD HAVE PAIN.

AFTER SURGERY AND THINGS.

SO THAT'S WHERE THE NORCO AND THE OXYGOT PRESCRIBED QUITE HEAVILY.

AND EVERYBODY HAS SEEN THE NEWS ABOUT THE OXY AND WHAT HAPPENED TO PERDUE FREDERICK FOR ALL THE FALSE PROMOTIONS THEY DID REGARDING OXY BEING SAFER AND THAT WAS REALLY THE BEGINNING OF THE OPIOID CRISIS THAT WE HAVE.

TODAY THERE ARE STILL OPIOIDS PRESCRIBED BUT YOU'RE PRESCRIBING IT ACCORDING TO THE NEED OF THE PATIENT.

SO IF YOU HAVE A TOOTH EXTRACTION, YOU DON'T WALK OUT WITH 30 VICODIN OR NORCO.

YOU WALK OUT MAYBE WITH 14 EYE BREW PROAFER OR SOME TYLENOL.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT TWO MINUTES LEFT AND I WANT TO THE DIFFERENT PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS HERE IN TERMS OF THE SUCCESS OF YOUR PROGRAMS.

AND LET ME TO MICHAEL FIRST.

MICHAEL, HOW SUCCESSFUL IS DRUG COURT AND RECOVERY COURT?

>> OUR NUMBERS SHOW THAT ABOUT 50% OF THE PEOPLE THAT GET OUT OF THE PROGRAM SEEM TO STAY OUT OF THE PROGRAM.

THE PROBLEM WITH US IS A LOT OF TIMES WE'RE JUST MESHING RESIDISM.

-- RECIDIVISM.

SO YOU'RE NOT MEASURING LONG-TERM SOBRIETY OR THOSE THINGS.

BUT BASED ON RECIDIVISM, WE DO PROBABLY 20% BETTER THAN REGULAR PROBATION, WHICH ANYTHING BETTER IS BETTER.

>> OKAY.

AND NOW BRANDON, I'LL ASK ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF GATEWAY FOUNDATION.

>> SO I -- I ACTUALLY AS A CLINICIAN DON'T TEND TO GET TOO MUCH INTO THE NUMBERS OF SUCCESS RATES BECAUSE I THINK THAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO FLUCTUATE GREATLY WITH HOW SUCCESS IS DEFINED.

WHETHER YOU DESIGN IT ON LENGTH OF SOBRIETY TIME OR REDUCED RECIDIVISM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I WILL SAY MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT I'VE SEEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE TWO MONTHS SOBER, TWO YEARS SOBER, 20 YEARS SOBER, I WOULD DEFINE ALL OF THOSE AS SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE DON'T GET TWO DAYS SOBER.

AND SO WHEN I'M LOOKING AT AN INDIVIDUAL AND TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT TREATMENT WAS SUCCESSFUL, I LOOK AT THE TIME THAT THEY DO HAVE THAT SOME PEOPLE DON'T GET.

>> AND IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO MEASURE THAT.

WE CAN EASILY MEASURE COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM.

WE HAVE A VERY HIGH SUCCESS RATES WHEN IT'S MEASURED LIKE THAT.

BUT AS BRANDON WAS SAYING, THE ONLY WAY YOU KNOW KNOW FOR SURE THAT YOU'RE KEEPING CONTACT WITH EVERY PATIENT AND GETTING DRUG SCREENS.

SOTH WISE YOU CALL SOMEUP AND SAY, HOW, ARE YOU DOING, ARE YOU STILL SOBER, THEY CAN SAY YES OR NO AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW FOR SURE.

>> THE GOOD SAMARITAN LAW.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PROPOSE OF SOMEONE WHO IS OVERDOSED, DO MAKE A PHONE CALL.

THERE IS A GOOD SAMARITAN LAW.

AND WITH THAT, LET ME SAY THANK YOU TO JERRY STORM WHO'S WITH THE PHARMACY OVER AT OSF HEALTHCARE AND TO BRANDON UNDERWOOD, BRANDON IS WITH GATEWAY FOUNDATION.

AND TO DR. TED BENDER WITH UNITY PLACE.

AND ALSO TO MICHAEL DONOVAN WHO IS WITH THE DRUG COURT OVER IN McCLAIN COUNTY.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US ON "AT ISSUE."

NEXT TIME WE'LL BE BACK WITH ANOTHER EDITION.

THIS TIME WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT BULLYING AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO CAUTION PEOPLE ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF BULLYING.

NEXT TIME ON "AT ISSUE."

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