- Oct 30
This week, Jeremy Klemanski, the CEO and President of Gateway Foundation, spoke to Illinois lawmakers during the state House and Senate Mental Health and Addiction Joint Committee hearing. The main topic of the hearing was how Illinois should use funds from recent opioid settlements and revenues from legal cannabis sales to support the behavioral health needs of the state, including substance use disorder (SUD) treatment.
During his testimony, Klemanski stressed the importance of funds moving quickly and sustainably to meet communities’ urgent need for expanded access to treatment for SUD and mental health disorders.
“Every day in our state and across the country, people are literally dying from untreated substance abuse,” Klemansi said. “Time is literally of the essence if you’re desperately calling for a bed or an outpatient opening,”
He also underscored the importance of establishing and maintaining a continuum of care that not only treats SUD and the symptoms of mental health disorders but also prevents them and supports people in maintaining life-long recovery.
“A full continuum includes prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery services and housing. They all have a place and they’re all part of a well-designed system of care,” he said.
Read more about the hearing here.
