Massive crowd forces non-profit to postpone hearing over proposed drug treatment center

addiction recovery ebulletin treatment center protest2

Not In Our Crackyard –

SEP. 19, 2019 – “I understand that there’s a need for a rehab center — we do need it — (but) I just think it’s not fiscally responsible to be put into Itasca,” said April Senase, who has lived in the village for a decade. “…Those of us who moved here and work two and three jobs to live in this town, it’s going to push us to where we have to leave.”

The village’s Plan Commission has rescheduled the meeting for Oct. 2 at a location yet to be chosen. An hour before the meeting was supposed to begin, each side took a shot at shaping public opinion. Up first was Haymarket, the Chicago-based nonprofit that has been trying for more than a year to establish what it says is a much-needed treatment center in DuPage County.

At a news conference outside Peacock Junior High, whose gymnasium was to host the meeting, Haymarket backers told personal stories of addiction overcome through treatment, and of loved ones who died in the opioid epidemic.