Protecting Our Communities From Emerging Drugs and Investing in Recovery

Most people have heard about the dangers of opioids, fentanyl and other addictive drugs. But there is another issue quietly showing up on retail shelves: psychoactive products with names most people have never heard of, including tianeptine, concentrated 7-OH, and other emerging substances.

I didn't know enough about these products either. So rather than making assumptions, I decided to find out what was actually happening in our community.

As a Coal Valley Village Trustee, I personally visited gas stations, liquor stores, and similar retailers I identified in the Village. Most did not appear to carry the products I was looking for. One had approximately six products, while another had approximately 50.

That got my attention.

But I didn't immediately call for a ban or accuse a local business of doing something illegal.

I did what I believe an elected official should do: get the facts first.

I brought my findings to the Coal Valley Village Board. The issue received support for further investigation, and I asked that our Village attorney review what authority a non-home-rule community like Coal Valley actually has.

Now I believe we should also look at the issue from a countywide perspective.

This Isn't Just About Banning Something

My goal is bigger than simply removing a product from a shelf.

If elected to the Rock Island County Board, I want the County to investigate its authority over emerging psychoactive substances and what we can do to protect residents, especially young people.

That means asking our State's Attorney and public-health professionals some important questions:

• What products are currently being sold throughout Rock Island County?

• What does Illinois law already regulate or prohibit?

• What additional authority does the County have?

• Can we establish or strengthen age restrictions and retailer requirements?

• Can particularly concerning substances be restricted?

• What enforcement authority does the County have?

• Where does state law prevent the County from taking action?

  
  

I don't believe politicians should promise something before determining whether they actually have the legal authority to do it.

Get the facts. Understand the law. Then act.

What About Taxing These Products?

This is another idea I believe deserves serious consideration.

If a business profits from selling potentially addictive psychoactive substances, I think we should at least explore whether those products can be taxed and whether that revenue can be dedicated to helping people struggling with addiction.

Current Illinois law already lets county boards ask voters to approve a county retailers' occupation tax whose authorized purposes specifically include mental health and substance abuse. That tax applies more broadly to covered retail sales and requires voter approval. It is not a special tax solely on tianeptine, 7-OH, or kratom.

I think Rock Island County should examine whether that existing authority could help strengthen treatment, prevention, and recovery services.

But I also want to take the conversation to Springfield.

Make the Products Contribute to the Solution

If Illinois law does not currently give counties sufficient authority to impose a targeted tax on particular emerging psychoactive substances, I would work with our state legislators to explore changing the law.

My proposal is simple:

If a particularly dangerous or addictive psychoactive product is legally sold in our communities, Illinois should consider allowing counties to impose a targeted tax on that product and dedicate the revenue to substance-abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery.

That targeted taxing authority would require additional legal authority if it isn't already permitted. I won't tell voters the County can do something until I've established that we legally can.

But that doesn't mean we shouldn't fight for the authority if it makes sense.

Helping People, Not Punishing Them

This is important to me.

Someone struggling with addiction isn't the enemy.

If we collect additional revenue because addictive or potentially dangerous substances are being sold in Rock Island County, I would rather see that money helping people than simply disappearing into the general budget.

I want us looking at:

• Substance-abuse treatment

• Recovery services

• Prevention and education

• Mental-health resources

• Youth prevention efforts

• Public-health responses to emerging substances

  
  

Illinois law already specifically recognizes mental health and substance abuse as permissible dedicated purposes for the county sales-tax mechanism described above.

This Is How I Believe Government Should Work

I don't have much interest in making a speech about a problem and then moving on to the next issue.

When residents bring something to my attention, I want to investigate it.

That's what I did here.

I found the products.

I went to the stores myself.

I documented what I found.

I brought it before the Village Board.

I requested legal review.

Now I'm asking what more we can accomplish at the county level.

If elected to the Rock Island County Board, I'll continue to take that approach.

Not every problem requires another law.

Not every problem requires another tax.

But when something hurts families and costs our communities money, we shouldn't be afraid to investigate and ask what we can do differently.

Find the problem. Get the facts. Understand our authority. Develop a solution. And make sure the people who need help aren't forgotten along the way.

That's the kind of County Board member I intend to be.