Category: Know Fentanyl

June 6, 2023
Cheryl Wittke – Executive Director Safe Communities Madison-Dane County
Contact: info@safercommunity.net

Easy, free access to lifesaving doses of naloxone at over 100 community locations

Today Dane County Executive Parisi shared an update on efforts funded by the Harm Reduction and Prevention Act.

The Harm Reduction and Prevention Act built upon Dane County and Safe Community partnerships and invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into the community to distribute fentanyl testing strips, along with Narcan kits, and increase awareness about this deadly epidemic.

Pastor and First Lady Wade hosted the event at Second Baptist Church and spoke to the powerful work of the African American Opioid Coalition.

Thanks to all community partners for hard work underway:

• Fifteen boxes have been installed, and 100 additional Overdose Aid Kits (OAK) are ready to go. They are stocked with doses of nasal naloxone, fentanyl test strips, safe use tips, and recovery resources.  Siting OAK boxes at community locations with elevated overdose rates will be first priority.  Organizations and businesses can request an OAK box — see Safe Communities’ website for details.
• Three vending machines with 24-7 access to naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and recovery resources will be installed at the Dane County Jail, outside Public Health Madison and Dane County’s Syringe Services office on E. Washington Avenue, and at a downtown location to be determined in August 2023.

• Dane County Emergency Management is coordinating a community-wide Naloxone Leave Behind program with local EMS agencies, and expanding prevention activities thanks to a new position funded through the Harm Reduction Act.

All Dane County hospital emergency rooms offer recovery coaches to patients undergoing treatment for overdose. But a new pilot at UnityPoint Health-Meriter will embed Safe Communities’ Recovery Coaches on-site during peak hours to foster real-time collaboration between patients, peers, family members and clinical staff to reduce drug harm and improve patient outcomes. Thanks to UnityPoint-Meriter CEO James Arnett for joining us today to show his support, and thank you, James for your organization’s leadership on this important work.

The Harm Reduction Act invested in culturally competent outreach and education to groups at the highest risk of fentanyl drug poisoning/overdose. With us today community members who are putting these funds to work:

• African American Opioid Coalition (AAOC) is working to address an alarming increase in overdose deaths among Black community members in Dane County.
• Staff from OutReach LGBTQ Community Center are out at clubs and community events distributing naloxone, test strips, safe use, and recovery resources.
• LaMovida Radio is kicking off a Spanish-language public education campaign.

A public education campaign will approach the problem from all angles by crafting messages targeted for:

• recreational users at risk of inadvertently ingesting fentanyl;
• people who use regularly – don’t use alone; carry naloxone;
• friends, family, public at large – be prepared to recognize and respond to an overdose.

Look for billboards, bus wraps, social media and radio ads to launch in August 2023.

Finally, we’re excited to announce efforts to launch school-based primary prevention and harm reduction education. At this time, Madison Metropolitan School District plans to pilot evidence-based curricula Safety First and Sources of Strength, and three additional school districts are making plans to introduce these exciting programs into their classroom.

Sources of Strength Program

The target population for Sources of Strength Secondary are Middle and High School students in Dane County.

Sources of Strength is a highly effective program that harnesses young people as immensely powerful change agents within their school communities.  Adult advisors coordinate ongoing meetings and evidence-based prevention strategies that focus on Hope, Help, Strength rather than shocking, traumatic, or sad messaging approaches.

Safety First Program: Real Drug Education for Teens

Safety First is meant for High School students. This curriculum is particularly relevant for students already using, for students at-risk for using, and/or for students living in communities in which there are high levels of drug use. The curriculum is designed to be used in classrooms or group settings.

Drug education should be:

• Scientifically accurate, providing accurate information about all drugs.
• Interactive
• Compassionate, taking into account that some youth will have used and/or sold drugs – or have close friends and family members who have.

Educating and empowering teenagers to make safe and healthy choices must be our highest priority. For more information about the Safety First Program, click here.

Area school districts are planning to launch Sources of Strength and Safety First in classrooms this Fall. Interested in bringing these exciting programs to your school community? Contact Project Manager Leah at lrolando@safercommunity.net

November 18, 2022
Ariana Vruwink, 608-267-8823
County Executive

The Harm Reduction and Prevention Act, a roughly $750,000 initiative to address opiate and fentanyl related emergencies, will soon infuse much needed supports into the Dane County community, County Executive Parisi announced today. A resolution to fund the legislative package, which includes school prevention and harm reduction curriculum, was approved at last night’s Dane County Board meeting.

“In Dane County, more residents are dying of drug poisoning than ever before. Just one pill laced with fentanyl or another synthetic opiate can take the life of a friend or loved one,” said Dane County Executive Joe Parisi. “Our community must act. The Harm Reduction and Prevention Act builds upon our partnerships and invests hundreds of thousands of dollars into the community to distribute fentanyl testing strips, along with Narcan kits, and increase awareness about these deadly epidemics.”

Deaths involving opiates and fentanyl have steadily increased in Dane County since 2016. In 2021, 149 people in Dane County passed away due to opiate related overdoses—reflecting 86% of all overdose deaths in the county. Opiate related deaths have increased more than 30% in the past five years. Meanwhile, overdose deaths involving fentanyl are up close to 70% in that same timeframe. Fentanyl was determined to be a contributing factor in over three quarters of the county’s overdose deaths in 2021.

In recognition of the continued scourge of opiates and fentanyl in the Dane County community and the harm they continue to cause families, this initiative will:

• In partnership with Safe Communities and Dane County school districts, pilot developmentally appropriate prevention and harm reduction curriculum through Life Skills and Safety First programing to better serve elementary though high school students. Using an evidence-based approach, Safe Communities will partner with local schools on debuting the new education courses, which focus on building resiliency, identifying risk, being safe, etc. and include interactive modules for older students.
• Increase awareness and community education about the dangers of fentanyl and opiates.
• Partner with community organizations to provide widespread distribution of Narcan and fentanyl test strips.
• Create a dedicated prevention specialist position within the Dane County Department of Emergency Management to oversee the development of a Narcan “leave behind” program where EMS agencies can leave Narcan rescue kits at the scenes of overdoses.
• In partnership with Safe Communities, embed Dane County Recovery Coaches within local hospitals and potentially the Dane County 911 Center to reduce the time between when an overdose occurs and when an individual first makes contact with a professional who can help them begin the path of addiction treatment/recovery.
• Create a prevention coordinator at the OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center to serve as a direct liaison to a number of communities, providing more awareness and prevention services to populations disproportionately impacted by overdoses/fentanyl poisoning.

This initiative totals around $750,000 and is in addition to the approximately $1.6 million Dane County currently allocates in opiate settlement funding for opiate treatment, prevention, and recovery efforts.

As part of the Harm Reduction and Prevention Act, Dane County will invest $159,900 in media and community outreach efforts. The following groups will receive funding to provide med lock boxes, Narcan, and/or fentanyl test strips: African American Opioid Coalition ($100,000), Pride in Prevention Coalition ($50,000), Recovery Coalition of Dane County ($10,000), Dane County Senior Focal Points ($15,000), and various housing providers ($10,000). $120,000 will also be allocated for school life skills/harm reduction curriculum.

A second portion of the Dane County Harm Reduction and Prevention Act—totaling $283,500—will be funded in the County Executive’s 2023 budget. Of that total, $115,000 will go to create a Prevention Coordinator position at the OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center. Approximately $110,000 will establish a prevention specialist position within the Dane County Department of Emergency Management. This individual will work with local EMS agencies on opiate and fentanyl response initiatives in the coming years. $10,000 will go to the Narcan “leave behind” program, while an additional $40,000 will go to school life skills/harm reduction curriculum next year.

September 08, 2022
Ariana Vruwink, 608-267-8823
County Executive

Parisi’s Harm Reduction and Prevention Act is Part of 2023 Budget Proposal, Includes Funding for School Prevention & Harm Reduction Curriculum

Today, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi joined community advocates to announce the Harm Reduction and Prevention Act, a nearly $740,000 initiative to address opiate and fentanyl related emergencies, as part of his 2023 budget.

“More Dane County residents than ever before are dying of drug poisoning. Just one pill laced with fentanyl or another synthetic opiate can kill our loved ones. We as a community have a responsibility to act. This nearly $740,000 proposal provides a comprehensive plan to reduce drug poisoning deaths and drug harm in Dane County,” said Executive Joe Parisi. “These investments in my 2023 budget build upon past successes and explore new opportunities to make a potentially lifesaving difference for the individuals and families who call Dane County home.”

Deaths involving opiates and fentanyl have steadily increased in Dane County since 2016. In 2021, 149 people in Dane County passed away due to opiate related overdoses—reflecting 86% of all overdose deaths in the county. Opiate related deaths have increased more than 30% in the past five years. Meanwhile, overdose deaths involving fentanyl are up close to 70% in that same timeframe. Fentanyl was determined to be a contributing factor in over three quarters of the county’s overdose deaths in 2021.

In recognition of the continued scourge of opiates and fentanyl in the Dane County community and the harm they continue to cause families, County Executive Parisi has prepared a $739,900 initiative to:

• In partnership with Safe Communities and Dane County school districts, pilot developmentally appropriate prevention and harm reduction curriculum through Life Skills and Safety First programing to better serve elementary though high school students. Using an evidence-based approach, Safe Communities will partner with local schools on debuting the new education courses, which focus on building resiliency, identifying risk, being safe, etc. and include interactive modules for older students.
• Increase awareness and community education about the dangers of fentanyl and opiates.
• Partner with community organizations to provide widespread distribution of Narcan and fentanyl test strips.
• Create a dedicated prevention specialist position within the Dane County Department of Emergency Management to oversee the development of a Narcan “leave behind” program where EMS agencies can leave Narcan rescue kits at the scenes of overdoses.
• In partnership with Safe Communities, embed Dane County Recovery Coaches within local hospitals and potentially the Dane County 911 Center to reduce the time between when an overdose occurs and when an individual first makes contact with a professional who can help them begin the path of addiction treatment/recovery.
• Create a prevention coordinator at the OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center to serve as a direct liaison to a number of communities, providing more awareness and prevention services to populations disproportionately impacted by overdoses/fentanyl poisoning.

“According to the CDC, nationally, teen drug overdose deaths rose sharply in 2020, driven by fentanyl-laced pills. In 2021, 77% of all teen overdose deaths involved fentanyl,” said Dan Olson, Monona Grove School District Superintendent. “As a school community, Dane County superintendents are aware of the deadly threat these substances present to our students and families. Thanks to Dane County Executive Parisi for allocating resources to school districts to address this problem.”

This $739,900 initiative will be in addition to the approximately $1.6 million Dane County currently allocates in opiate settlement funding for opiate treatment, prevention, and recovery efforts.

“This support comes at a critical time, as we work to reverse a deadly trend both in our community at large and in the Black community. While the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl, present in everything from counterfeit prescription pills to cocaine, is an equal opportunity killer, it is taking a disproportionate toll on Black families,” said Carola Gaines, Co-Chair of the African American Opioid Coalition. “According to a Public Health Madison & Dane County report, the overdose death rate is three times higher among Dane County’s Black residents than White.”

As part of the Harm Reduction and Prevention Act, Dane County will invest $159,900 in media and community outreach efforts. The following groups will receive funding to provide med lock boxes, Narcan, and/or fentanyl test strips: African American Opioid Coalition ($100,000), Pride in Prevention Coalition ($50,000), Recovery Coalition of Dane County ($10,000), Dane County Senior Focal Points ($15,000), and various housing providers ($10,000). $120,000 will also be allocated for school life skills/harm reduction curriculum. These efforts total $464,900 and a resolution authorizing the emergency use of these funds immediately will be introduced at this evening’s meeting of the Dane County Board of Supervisors.

“I am grateful for the County Executive’s diligence to have been part of the lawsuit against opioid manufacturers,” said Dane County Board Supervisor Rick Rose. “By building out a more vibrant recovery community, we can then focus on treatment and care. Recovery is a journey not a destination. Each day brings something new, so we as a county must remain nimble and vigilant to address those needs through additional funds that will come to our county.”

A second portion of the Dane County Harm Reduction and Prevention Act—totaling just over $275,000—will be funded in the County Executive’s 2023 budget. Of that, $115,000 will go to create a Prevention Coordinator position at the OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center. Around $110,000 will establish a prevention specialist position within the Dane County Department of Emergency Management. This individual will work with local EMS agencies on opiate and fentanyl response initiatives in the coming years. $10,000 will go to the Narcan “leave behind” program, while an additional $40,000 will go to school life skills/harm reduction curriculum next year.

“Thanks to Dane County Executive Joe Parisi for his commitment to saving LGBTQ lives,” said Steve Starkey, Executive Director of OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center. “Funds included in the County Executive’s ‘Emergency Harm Reduction and Prevention Act’ will jumpstart a coalition of organizations and businesses that serve Dane County’s LGBTQ community.”

County Executive Parisi’s full 2023 budget will be released October 3, 2022.