“We as a society have to realize we are not going to arrest, we are not going to prosecute our way out of this problem,” Dewey said.“When you take a user and put them in the system, to me that’s like arresting a diabetic for possession of a donut.
“Heroin is different. It’s affecting blue-collar middle class families. It’s the housewife next door to you.”
According to state figures, since 2013, the number of heroin deaths has nearly doubled, and the number of prescription opioid deaths has almost quadrupled. In 2016, there were 1,889 opioid overdose deaths, an increase of 76 percent from 2013.
Today the 1984 Armstrong Township High School graduate is one of the faces of the state of Illinois’ battle against opioid drug abuse. Dewey spoke at a ceremony lastWednesday as Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti and other state officials unveiled the State of Illinois Opioid Action Plan. Earlier in the day, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed an executive order that created the Opioid Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task Force that will look at strategies to prevent expansion of the opioid crisis, treat and promote the recovery of individuals with opioid-use disorder and reduce the number of opioid overdose deaths. Dewey, who has turned his life around with treat- ment, wants to help others who are like he used to be. He said it is important to eliminate the stigma of drug abuse and stressed the importance of prevention, treatment and ongoing support.
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