Award Recognizes Her Sponsorship of House Bill Aimed at Reducing Overdose Deaths in Illinois

In recognition of today’s International Overdose Awareness Day, Roosevelt University honored City Clerk Susana Mendoza and 14 other legislative leaders for their tireless efforts to reduce the number of overdose deaths in Illinois. Mendoza was given the honor as a Chief Co-Sponsor of legislation that made naloxone, the opiate antidote, more readily available across the state.

The legislation went into effect in 2010 when Mendoza was serving as the Illinois 1st District State Representative. According to the Centers for Disease Control, drug overdose death rates in the US have more than tripled since 1990. In 2009, more than 37,000 people died from drug overdoses. Naloxone has helped reverse more than 10,000 overdoses according to the CDC.

“Instead of criminalizing accidental overdoses, we need to find ways to better provide access to life saving medications,” said Mendoza. “As State Representative, I was proud to work with my colleagues and sponsor legislation that has the potential to save tens of thousands of lives and break down the stigma of overdose.”