1. Wireless Access SSID: cwag2017
Password: cwag17

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

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

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

10. 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

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

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

18. In just 8 years:

21. 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

23. 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

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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

29. 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

30. 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

33. Wireless Access SSID: cwag2017
Password: cwag17