Police chiefs, sheriffs and state’s attorneys called on Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Illinois General Assembly to maintain about $17 million to human service programs and add $50 million to early childhood programs to prevent future opiate addicts.

Helping at-risk children, particularly with home visits from human services officials, is a proven part of a winning strategy to fighting the opioid epidemic in Illinois, according to the law enforcement officials with the group Fight Crime: Invest in Kids.

“In law enforcement, we pride ourselves on getting out ahead of a problem,” Christian County Sheriff Bruce Kettelkamp said at a Statehouse news conference on Wednesday. “And to get ahead of the opioid problem, we’ve got to start talking more about prevention.”

Kettelkamp said that nearly 2,000 Illinoisans died from opiate-related causes last year.

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