Senator Sally Turner Sponsored
Fentanyl Testing Strips Legislation Passes
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[May 10, 2023]
On
Wednesday May 5, State Senator Sally Turner’s (R-Beason) sponsored
legislation that would create greater access to potentially
life-saving fentanyl testing strips passed out of the Illinois
Senate unanimously.
“The United States has seen a nearly 280 percent increase of
fentanyl deaths since 2016. That is a spike of fentanyl poisoning
deaths from 5.7 individuals per 100,000 to 21.6 per 100,000,” said
Sen. Turner. “More and more of the fentanyl deaths that we are
seeing are occurring because someone has unwittingly taken this
deadly poison.”
House Bill 3203, which was filed in the House by Illinois House
Republican Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) and carried by Sen.
Turner in the Senate, allows pharmacists and retailers to sell
fentanyl testing strips over the counter to the public.
Additionally, House Bill 3203 allows county public health
departments to distribute the testing strip at their facilities for
free.
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“The whole purpose of this piece
of legislation is to ensure that these testing strips are more
readily available for all Illinois residents,” continued Sen.
Turner. “Absolutely no one wants anyone to die from this deadly
poison. If we can prevent unnecessary and avoidable deaths by
making these strips available, then it is our duty to make them
as accessible as possible.”
House Bill 3203 has now passed both chambers of the General
Assembly, and now heads to the Governor’s desk for his
signature.
[Marcus J. Durrett
Illinois Senate Republican Staff
Communications and Public Affairs]
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