19 June, 2017
Lang Launches Statewide Addiction, Mental Health Hearings in Dixon
(Dixon, IL) – Members of the House Substance Abuse Subcommittee held a hearing in Dixon, IL, today, Monday, June 19, to hear behavioral health advocates discuss the state’s opioid and heroin epidemic and mental health challenges in rural Illinois.
“We are beginning our statewide behavioral health reform hearings in Dixon because reforming and expanding mental health care and addiction treatment services for rural Illinois must be a top priority for the stat-
e legislature,” said State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie), chair, of the House Substance Abuse Subcommittee.
Lawmakers and committee witnesses gathered at the Old Lee County Courthouse in Dixon located at 112 E. 2nd St. for the 10 a.m. hearing.
“There are some rural areas of the state that face mental health and addiction treatment ser-
vice deserts, and any legislative behavioral health initiative needs to ensure that Dixon, Danville, Mt. Vernon and other rural communities have easy and adequate access to care,” Lang said.
Lang intends to hold hearings throughout the summer and fall with the aim of crafting a comprehensive, bi-partisan behavioral health reform package to be submitted to lawmakers early in 2018.