Gov. Evers Signs Senate Bill 875
LA CROSSE — Gov. Tony Evers today, joined by State Rep. Jill Billings (D-La Crosse), local officials, and community members, signed Senate Bill (SB) 875, now 2023 Wisconsin Act 217, which decriminalizes the use of xylazine testing strips. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), xylazine is a non-opioid sedative or tranquilizer that is not approved for use in people, can be life-threatening, and is especially dangerous when combined with opioids like fentanyl.
Wisconsin has seen record-high rates of opioid use disorder and overdose deaths in recent years. According to the CDC, more than 109,000 individuals died of an overdose in the U.S. in 2022, including approximately 1,800 Wisconsinites. Many, though not all, drug overdoses in the U.S. and Wisconsin are related to the use of opioids, including those involving xylazine. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), in 2022, 1,464 Wisconsinites died by an opioid overdose, and between 2020 and 2022, the number of opioid-related deaths in Wisconsin increased by nearly 19 percent. Currently, there is no known xylazine reversal agents, and this bill will provide potentially life-saving tools by allowing people to test for its presence.
Individuals seeking substance use treatment and recovery services are encouraged to use the Wisconsin Addiction Recovery Helpline, which is free and available 24/7.
Senate Bill 875, now 2023 Wisconsin Act 217:
- Exempts materials to test for the presence of xylazine or a xylazine analog in a substance from the definition of “drug paraphernalia” under the state’s Uniform Controlled Substances Act; and
- Creates certain civil and criminal liability exemptions for people distributing or administering such testing products.
An online version of this release is available here.
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.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Gov. Tony Evers
Gov. Evers, Eli Lilly and Company Celebrate $3 Billion Expansion of Manufacturing Facility in Wisconsin
Dec 5th, 2024 by Gov. Tony EversAccording to the company, the investment will benefit millions of patients worldwide, create 2,000 construction jobs, and add 750 highly skilled jobs to Southeastern Wisconsin