State Representative Dan Caulkins, Jim Kaitschuk of the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association, and Joe Abdalla of Code 3 Discuss Ways to Help Combat the Opioid Epidemic in the State
SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Rx Abuse Leadership Initiative (RALI) of Illinois brought together various perspectives in a new video to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Illinoisans struggling with substance use disorders, and how to spot the warning signs of substance misuse and prevent addiction.
RALI Illinois is an alliance of local, state and national organizations dedicated to finding solutions to address the opioid crisis. As Americans continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, RALI is continuing efforts to safely address the opioid epidemic across the state.
State Representative Dan Caulkins opened the video with welcoming remarks and thanked RALI Illinois for their continued efforts to share information and resources to combat substance misuse in communities across the state. “Even while we practice social distancing, we can work to fight the opioid crisis from home” said Representative Caulkins. “Educating ourselves about safe disposal and the red flags of addiction is the first step in keeping our loved ones safe.”
Another speaker was Jim Kaitschuk, Executive Director of the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association, who talked about the proper use and disposal of prescription drugs. He encouraged listeners to examine their medicine cabinets and take steps to safely dispose of any unwanted medications in order to prevent misuse and addiction.
Joe Abdalla of Code 3 took participants on a virtual tour of the RALI CARES experience, a program designed to educate parents, educators, and community members working with teenagers and young adults about the early signs of substance misuse that often go unnoticed.
The full video is available for viewing here. To learn more about RALI Illinois, safe disposal, warning signs, the virtual trailer, and more visit rali-il.org.
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The Rx Abuse Leadership Initiative (RALI) supports programs that help prevent the misuse of prescription medicines so that more lives can be saved from the opioid crisis. We do this by bringing together community leaders and elected officials who are committed to finding effective solutions and sharing ideas that will make a difference across the state.