CHICAGO (WGEM) – More than a $1 billion is coming to Illinois from opioid settlement and revenues from legal cannabis sales. The question for state lawmakers is how to spend the money, some of which is meant to go towards behavioral and mental health services that include substance abuse treatment.
“What does mental health funding mean,” asked state Sen. Laura Fine, D-Glenview.
Fine co-chaired the state House and Senate Mental Health and Addiction Joint Committee hearing Monday in Chicago. The crux of Monday’s hearing: how can Illinois best use money it receives from opioid settlements and cannabis sales taxes to improve access to mental and behavioral health services throughout the state?
“What is being funded, how is that money being spent and what is the impact of those dollars on people’s lives and programs offered,” Fine asked.
The state is set to receive around $1.3 billion from opioid settlements by 2038. It estimates about $772.57 million will go to the Remediation Fund, which will be used for substance abuse programs according to the Illinois Opioid Allocation Agreement.
As for cannabis dollars, state law requires the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) receive 20% of annual tax revenue to be used for substance abuse prevention and mental health concerns. In fiscal year 2024, that number was nearly $56 million according to the Illinois Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer. The department will receive an additional nearly $5.6 million for its Drug Treatment and Education Fund.
“Everyday in our state and across the country, people are literally dying from untreated substance abuse. Time is literally of the essence if you’re desperately calling for a bed or an outpatient opening,” Gateway Foundation President and CEO Jeremy Klemanski said.
The Gateway Foundation is Illinois’ largest and longest-running addiction treatment nonprofit, according to its website.
Klemanski said the state should move money as quickly as possible to organizations helping people struggling with substance abuse. He also thinks the state should put some of its opioid settlement money into an interest-earning trust, so dollars will be available to these organizations in perpetuity.
“A full continuum includes prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery services and housing. They all have a place and they’re all part of a well-designed system of care,” he said.
Regardless of how the money is spent, one thing is clear among lawmakers.
“We want to do what we can to expand and provide accessible, affordable services to everyone in need,” Fine said.
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