Coalition Highlights New Model of Preventing the Heroin/Opioid Health Crisis in Wisconsin Youth

STATEWIDE – As Wisconsin faces an increasing public health crisis surrounding heroin, opioid and other substance misuse, today the Healthy Youth, Bright Futures Coalition marks Recovery Month by highlighting efforts underway in Wisconsin schools to curb drug and alcohol misuse by meeting youth where they are. Recovery Month brings a national focus on the societal benefits of prevention, treatment, and recovery for mental and substance use disorders.

Substance use disorder is widely seen as a crisis. Wisconsin saw a record 227 heroin-related deaths in 2013. In Milwaukee alone, reported heroin use among teens has increased nearly 30% from 2011 to 2013, according to a recent survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control. By treating this issue as the public health crisis it is, the coalition seeks to address the epidemic in ways law enforcement alone cannot.

Five school districts in Southeastern Wisconsin, including Racine Unified and Waukesha school districts are combating alcohol, heroin and opioid misuse by implementing a solution called SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment). These districts follow the Hartford Union and Kewaskum school districts in Washington County, the first to implement the solution in Wisconsin.

The SBIRT model has been endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Wisconsin State Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (SCAODA) and other medical authorities across the country.

“Addressing Wisconsin’s public health crisis of heroin and other substance misuse cannot rely solely on a law-enforcement approach,” said Citizen Action of Wisconsin Executive Director Robert Kraig. “Right now, schools in Southeastern Wisconsin are meeting youth where they are, using prevention and early intervention programs to combat dangerous substance misuse and addressing directly the heroin/opioid health crisis jeopardizing the future of Wisconsin youth.”

The Healthy Youth, Bright Futures Coalition for the Prevention of Youth Addiction in Wisconsin includes Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund, Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, IMPACT, Wisconsin Initiative to Promote Healthy Lifestyles, Elevate, Inc, Flow One Lean Consulting, and Community Advocates.

For more information on the coalition’s efforts, contact Citizen Action of Wisconsin Health Care Organizer Erik Kirkstein, (414)-520-1377 erik.kirkstein@citizenactionwi.org

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

Recent Press Releases by Citizen Action of Wisconsin

Citizen Action Stages Protest of We Energies in Frigid Conditions

Dec 23rd, 2022 by Citizen Action of Wisconsin

Calls out 11% price increase, discriminatory rates for low income people of color, foot-dragging on climate crisis

News Events in 4 Wisconsin Cities Tout new Child Tax Credit Which Begin in July

Jul 9th, 2021 by Citizen Action of Wisconsin

Measure enacted as part of the American Rescue Plan cuts child poverty in Wisconsin nearly in half, but expires after 1 year

Wisconsin Billionaires Got $11.1 Billion Richer Over First 10 Months of Pandemic, Their Collective Wealth Jumping By 28%

Feb 9th, 2021 by Citizen Action of Wisconsin

Gains of 8 Richest Residents Could Cover $2 Billion State Deficit Predicted by Outside Analysts 5 Times Over & Still Leave Billionaires Richer Than They Were Before COVID