Bill to curb opioid ‘pharmacy shopping’ has its roots in Bloomington-Normal

Rodney Davis
Congressman Rodney Davis, joined by local leaders at a news conference, announced he’s introducing a bill requiring people to show identification to pharmacists when they fill opioid prescriptions. (Photo by Howard Packowitz/WJBC)

By Howard Packowitz

NORMAL – A case of what authorities said was illegal pharmacy shopping for opioids in Bloomington-Normal has led to federal legislation aimed at curbing the spread of the highly-addictive painkiller.

At a news conference Friday in Uptown Normal, Central Illinois Republican Congressman Rodney Davis joined local leaders and police to introduce a bill requiring people with opioid prescriptions to show identification to the pharmacist.

“Those who are in the business of possibly selling those pills, those who are addicted and maybe using those pills, they need to be able to tell that pharmacist who they are so that law enforcement can go find out who the bad actors are,” said Davis.

The congressman said the need for the legislation became apparent last summer when local police arrested three Chicago area residents who went from pharmacy to pharmacy trying to fill fraudulent opioid prescriptions.

Normal Police Sgt. Adam Kapchinske said pharmacists became suspicious and called police.

“They did a great job recognizing something was up. They kind of understand that they had a cycle of two or three people coming in with extremely high and rare prescriptions. So they brought it to our attention that something was out of place,” Sgt. Kapchinske said.

The matter was brought to the congressman’s attention by the Sergeant and Normal Town Councilman Jeff Fritzen.

Davis’ bill also calls for information about opioid prescriptions to be entered into a presciption drug monitoring data base.

The congressman said his proposal is a good first step in breaking the cycle of opioid addiction. Davis expects the bill to pass because he said opioid abuse is not a partisan issue.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

 

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…