The Winnebago County Sheriff's department has a new tool to help combat what has been described as an epidemic in Wisconsin. Deputies are now equipped with Narcan, a drug that can reverse the effects of heroin and opiate overdoses.
Back in 2012 health professionals in northeast Wisconsin started noticing more and more patients coming in with pain medication and heroin addictions. Shortly after that, the overdoses and deaths started becoming more and more common place too. Today in Winnebago County they have a new way to combat that.
Pain medications like opiates and of course the street version heroin continue to grow in popularity across the state.
“It's hitting or children our grandparents our parents our cousins, uncles and dads," says Julie Williams of Oshkosh.
Few know more about the issue than Julie Williams. Her daughter is two years clean now after struggling with the dangerous addiction for years. But even today, Julie carries the life saving overdose drug Narcan just in case someone needs it.
"A few of my friends have had to use it on their children.... I wish it would have been around five years ago because I think we could have saved way more lives with this," says Williams who is pleased that the life saving drug is now in the hands of law enforcement who are often the first to be on scene of an overdose.
It's estimated about 25 to 30 people died of overdoses last year in Winnebago County alone.
"Usually opiates are a part of that," says Heidi Keating the Public Health Planner with the Winnebago County Health Department.
But with the introduction of this 50 dollar or less drug she and the sheriff’s office hope to see that number go down.
"We bought the product, bought the cases and trained our deputies in how to administer the medication," says Lt. Lara Vendola-Messer of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s office.
The Winnebago County Health Department saying more and more law enforcement are carrying the drug these days and if they reach an overdose victim in time, it can save lives.
"Time is really of the essence and if the sheriff's department can be first on the scene and provide that, it's a life saving drug," adds Keating.
And with the whole state talking about what to do about the epidemic, Narcan seems to be a solution for now.
The Winnebago County Sheriff's office is the first law enforcement department in the county to have Narcan. They anticipate police departments across the county to follow suit soon.
If you would like to find resources for help combating addiction we have some information about local organizations that offer support, education, and advocacy. Just check out the link below for Wisconsin United We C.A.N.
http://www.changeaddictionnow.org/wisconsin.html
