Looking for Solutions to the Opioid Crisis
"Opioids: Killing More Than Pain" conference at UW-Parkside

On Wednesday, January 31st, I joined hundreds of people in attending the Opioids: Killing More Than Pain conference at UW-Parkside.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), in Wisconsin, the 2016 opioid-related hospitalization rate of 73 per 100,000 meaning that out of every 100,000 people, there were 73 hospitalizations due to opioid-related ailments. Also, in 2016, there were 827 deaths from opioid overdoses in Wisconsin. That is a 35% increase from the year before. There were more opioid deaths in Wisconsin than killed in car crashes.
To address this epidemic, Wisconsin has passed more than 28 pieces of legislation addressing the opioid crisis. Many of the recommendations stemmed from the Task Force on Opioid Abuse working to address the issue.
On January 19, Governor Walker signed two executive orders acting against the opioid crisis, directing multiple state agencies to adopt the Task Force on Opioid Abuse co-chairs’ recommendations to improve awareness and prevention practices regarding opioids. The executive orders also provide increased access to treatment and addiction care providers throughout the state.
- Executive Order #273: Relating to the implementation of the recommendations of the co-chairs of the Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Crisis.
- Executive Order #274: Relating to the creation of the Commission on Substance Abuse Treatment Delivery.
We need to continue to work toward addressing the opioid crisis.
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