Wireless Access SSID: cwag2017 Password: cwag17

Prescription Painkiller Abuse in Wisconsin Sharing a Dose of Reality Brad Schimel Wisconsin Attorney General

WI DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 9/30/2015 Awareness – the Myths MYTH: Painkillers are completely safe because they are prescribed by a doctor. DOSE OF REALITY: Prescription painkillers are involved with more deaths than heroin and cocaine combined WI DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 9/30/2015

Awareness – the Problem in Wisconsin MYTH: Illicit drugs are more dangerous than prescriptions DOSE OF REALITY: Most of the increase in drug-related deaths is due to misuse of prescription drugs rather than illicit drugs Our experience reflects the national trend (Wisconsin Epidemiological Profile on Alcohol & Other Drug Use, 2014) WI DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 9/30/2015 4

Awareness – Who is being impacted? MYTH: This is just affecting the “bad kids” DOSE OF REALITY: Young people from all walks of life are becoming addicted WI DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 9/30/2015 5

Awareness – Sources of Abused Opioids MYTH 1: People obtain prescription painkillers “on the street” MYTH 2: Most people abusing painkillers get them legally from a doctor WI DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 9/30/2015

Awareness – Friends & Family DOSE OF REALITY: 70.8 % got or took them from friend or relative (NIH: The Science of Drug Abuse 7 Addiction, 2010) WI DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 9/30/2015

Isn’t Heroin the real problem? MYTH: Illicit drugs are the cause of most of the problem

Prescription painkillers are the root of the problem DOSE OF REALITY: Nearly 4 out of 5 heroin users began by abusing prescription painkillers

Dose of Reality Very Simple Prevention Message: Take meds ONLY as prescribed TO YOU by a physician Store meds safely and SECURELY DISPOSE of meds properly/promptly

Awareness – “Not in our neighborhood” MYTH: Heroin addiction is an urban problem stemming from street drugs WI DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 9/30/2015

Just an Urban Problem? DOSE OF REALITY: It’s affecting communities of all kinds: urban, suburban and rural

In just 8 years:

Oct. ‘16 = nearly 59,000 lbs Apr. ‘17 = nearly 68,000 lbs Drug Take Back May ‘15 = Over 39,000 lbs Oct. ‘15 = Over 44,000 lbs Apr. ‘16 = Over 64,000 lbs Oct. ‘16 = nearly 59,000 lbs Apr. ‘17 = nearly 68,000 lbs 275,000 lbs total/15 semis Over 300 Med Return Units

Role of Medical Community Educating prescribers Changing conversation w/ patients Rx guidelines WI Medical Examining Board WI Medical Society WI Hospital Association WI Dental Examining Board – will be 1st in U.S. Med. Exam Board - Responsibility for Tx Med. Examining Board requiring CMEs

Already seeing reductions in prescribing of opioids WI Controlled Substance Board: # of opioid Rx dispensed reduced 11% in 2016 compared to 2015. DEA: Nationwide opioid production reduced 25% = demand down!

WI Medical Community Supported Mandatory PDMP Simpler prescriber access: 1 click Shorten time to reporting Alerts for concerning behaviors Physician profiles available Licensing board access to concerning prescriber data

Medical Community actions Pharm. Soc. WI – Robbery safety training WI Nursing Assoc. – Addressing danger to traveling nurses Marquette Dental School classes Medical assoc. articles and conferences Increasing availability of MAT

An even bigger storm may be coming…. As we reduce proliferation of Rx narcotics, addicted users turning faster to heroin and Fentanyl 2. Switch to Meth

Actions by other partners DHS issued standing order for Narcan DOJ negotiated Narcan rebate/discount DOJ and DHS collaboration on DOR DOJ and DOT collaboration on Drugged Driving awareness campaign DOJ website resources Law enforcement Narcan training and use OD death investigation training

Actions by other partners Employers embracing early intervention Wisconsin Eye video for schools WI Interscholastic Athletic Assoc. Drug Free Community Coalitions CJS: TAD in 50 of 72 counties & majority of tribal communities HOPE Legislation

Wireless Access SSID: cwag2017 Password: cwag17