(Deerfield, IL) – Today, leading organizations from across Illinois and the country launched a new statewide initiative to address the worsening opioid epidemic. The Rx Abuse Leadership Initiative (RALI) of Illinois will focus on elevating prevention, treatment and recovery strategies to help save the lives of Illinoisans. The new alliance is made up of more than 20 health care, law enforcement, veteran, community and drug prevention organizations committed to finding solutions to the opioid crisis.
Among the first efforts RALI Illinois will focus on is proper storage and disposal of prescription medications, which can help prevent misuse. RALI Illinois will provide resources to help residents safely remove unused medicines from their home.
“The opioid epidemic is going to take a comprehensive approach that employs multiple strategies and many stakeholders to address it,” said General Arthur T. Dean, chairman and CEO of Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA). “We view our partnership with RALI Illinois as a model for how communities can enhance local primary prevention efforts and increase awareness about the dangers of substance use and misuse. By working together, we can build safe and healthy drug-free communities.”
As part of its launch, RALI Illinois will present 50,000 drug disposal pouches to partners and organizations who will distribute them to residents free of charge. The pouches are among the FDA-approved methods for disposing of unused medicines. In addition to providing disposal pouches throughout the state, RALI Illinois will offer community grants to organizations dedicated to prevention and treatment of substance use disorders.
“The impact of the addiction crisis on our communities cannot be overstated. Across the state, nearly 2,000 people per year are dying from opioid overdoses alone,” said Bill Gentes, executive director of the Lake County Opioid Initiative and A Way Out. “There is no silver bullet solution, so we must bring groups together – like RALI Illinois is doing – and support solutions that are working to prevent and treat this disease.”
To learn more about RALI Illinois, visit www.rali-il.org.
About RALI Illinois:
RALI Illinois is an alliance of 20 local, state and national organizations working to elevate solutions to the state’s opioid crisis. Members include:
Addiction Policy Forum
The BASE Chicago
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)
Community- The Anti-Drug
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
Hoyleton Youth & Family Services
Illinois Academy of Family Physicians
Illinois Grange
Illinois Pharmacists Association
Illinois Sheriffs’ Association
Link Together
Midwest Business Group on Health
National Black Nurses Association
National Consumers League
National Grange
National Sheriffs’ Association
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
Veterans Against Drugs
Veterans Health Council
Vietnam Veterans of America
West Garfield Park Community Stakeholders
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