Yingling Appointed to Young Adult Heroin Abuse Task Force

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, has been appointed to serve on the state’s Young Adult Heroin Abuse Task Force and work to increase awareness and prevent teen heroin abuse. Yingling introduced legislation creating the task force in an effort to stem a growing trend of heroin abuse in suburban high schools.    

“Because heroin is one of the most dangerous and addictive substances on the planet, no legislator, educator, law enforcement official or parent can in good conscience ignore the alarming increase in its abuse in suburban schools,” Yingling said. “The work of this task force could quite possibly save young lives, and I am honored to have this opportunity to work for a solution and continue to make the concerns of our suburban communities heard.”  

Yingling was named to the task force last week after passing House Bill 946, which creates the task force, during his first legislative session. The measure received bipartisan support in the House and the Senate and was signed into law this summer. The 16-member task force will be comprised of educators and a bipartisan group of legislators who will serve without compensation and work with law enforcement officials, medical professionals and parents to study the problem of heroin abuse in Illinois and make recommendations for programs high schools can implement to increase education.

According to the Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy, nearly 3,000 Illinois children between the ages of 12 and 17 will use heroin on any given day. In recent years, emergency room reports mentioning heroin overdoses have increased by 8 percent among those under the age of 20, and 23 percent among those under the age of 30.  

“Teenagers need to know the risk heroin poses to their futures and their families, and parents and teachers need to know how to intervene and keep our children safe,” Yingling said. “By bringing everyone to the table, this task force will help raise awareness in our schools, in our homes and in the halls of the Capitol.” 

Yingling represents the 62nd District, which contains portions of Gages Lake, Grayslake, Hainesville, Ingleside, the Round Lake communities, Wauconda and Wildwood.