SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Bill Cunningham to combat opioid overdoses by improving emergency response time passed the State Senate in a bipartisan vote Wednesday.

“We’re facing a crisis when it comes to overdoses in our state and we need to empower our first responders to act quickly,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “It’s time for lawmakers to get aggressive in the fight against opioid abuse.”

Senate Bill 1258 would require emergency medical technicians in Chicago to report treatment of an individual experiencing a suspected or actual opioid overdose to the city for use in the Overdose Detection Mapping Application (ODMAP), developed by the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).

The ODMAP provides real-time overdose data throughout an area to mobilize an immediate response to an overdose spike. Each suspected overdose is plotted to a map that allows local officials to identify trends and develop strategies to more effectively respond to overdoses.

“This program will be an effective tool as we try to prevent overdose deaths,” Cunningham said. “I encourage my colleagues in the House to pass this measure quickly to provide desperately needed help for the people of Chicago.”

Senate Bill 1258 passed 54-0. It will now go before the House of Representatives.