Senate hearing Thursday in Granite City to explore state’s response to opioid crisis

GRANITE CITY – Members of the Senate’s special committee on Opioid Crisis Abatement are scheduled to meet Thursday, Jan, 16, to hear testimony from numerous state and local agencies to learn how the Illinois State Opioid Action Plan (SOAP) is working for their group.

As chairperson of the committee, State Senator Rachelle Crowe, D-Glen Carbon will lead the meeting to hear what improvements have been made and what changes still await. Among the agencies schedule to testify are the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Illinois Department of Human Services, Caritas Family Solutions, Gateway Foundation and Chestnut Health Systems.

Also expected to participate are Sens. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, Dale Fowler, R-Harrisburg, and Christopher Belt, D-Cahokia.

The event starts at  12:30 p.m. at Chestnut Health Systems, 50 Northgate Industrial Drive, Granite City.