APPLETON — The opioid crisis is something many are working to end in our area.
On Wednesday, the Fox Valley Healthcare Readiness Coalition hosted a summit with other community services to talk about the opioid epidemic.
Nearly 150 first responders and treatment and recovery services attended different sessions throughout the day to learn more about the opioid epidemic and resources that are available.
The sessions included how to be safe when responding to a scene involving drugs, helping with referrals, and different services available. They also discussed how to talk with people like in an ambulance as they're coming to after being administered Narcan.
Those at the summit were able to hear from a 27-year-old man from Oshkosh who had been given Narcan on three different occasions and has now been clean for more than two years.
“I think it really resonates with somebody when they're hearing that personal experience of what they've been through and they've actually been through this specific topic of me overdosing, getting revived,” said Jake Wissink. “And I think it's very educational for them and can help them from a standpoint of how to handle overdoses in these types of situations."
First responders say this was an eye-opening experience learning about resources they didn't know about in the community to help them always be prepared. Organizers say they believe this is just the first step in a lot of work between first responders and the service community in our area as they fight this epidemic.
