Dupage Policy Journal

As Illinois and the nation faces an opioid epidemic, Sean Casten, the Democrat candidate in Illinois' 6th Congressional District race, was recently asked how he plans to handle it if elected. Casten calls for the decriminalization of opioids as a national solution to the issue.

"'A step forward': U.S. Rep. @SeanCasten calls for federal decriminalization of small cannabis possession; no comment from GOP rival @KeithPekau," the Daily Herald posted in an Oct. 20 Twitter post.

During a recent online interview with the Daily Herald, Casten (D) was asked about drug abuse and the opioid epidemic in our nation. Upon being asked, "What more can Congress do, or what more can you do to fight the surge of drug addiction?" Casten said he is in favor of "decriminalizing minor possession" of opioids.

Casten suggests the U.S. follow the example of other countries by "recognizing drug addiction is a mental health problem, not a criminal problem." He further suggests the creation of "safe-shooting galleries" for drug users.

During the interview, Casten praised Switzerland and Portugal for decriminalizing opioids and treating addiction as a public health issue. 

"We've started on the decriminalization path, certainly with marijuana, which is a step forward," Casten told the Daily Herald. "Let's admit that we need to use some new tactics and acknowledge that there are other jurisdictions that have proven tactics that work."

According to Ballotpedia, Pekau (R) and Casten are running in the general election for Illinois' 6th Congressional District on Nov. 8.

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports that opioid overdose deaths in the state climbed 33% from 2019 to 2020. Since 2013, synthetic opioid overdose deaths increased by a whopping 2,736%.

Congress voting data from FiveThirtyEight shows Casten has voted with Biden 99% of the time since first joining Congress in 2019.