Pubdate: Sat, 25 Jan 2014
Source: Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune (WI)
Copyright: 2014 The Daily Tribune
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/4n7hkYIN
Website: http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1609
Author: Liz Welter, Central Wisconsin Sunday

LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS GROWING HEROIN USE MAKING PROGRESS TO BECOMING LAW

The vote in the state Assembly on a package of bills to address heroin
abuse and related crimes defied the usual party line voting to pass
96-0 about two weeks ago.

The four bills covering heroin opiate prevention and education
legislation, nicknamed H.O.P.E., covers a multi-pronged approach to
address the "heroin epidemic in Wisconsin," said Rep. Scott Krug,
R-Nekoosa, who co-authored the bill to allow trained first responders
to administer Narcan, a drug that counters the effects of a heroin
overdose.

Legislators expect the vote in the state Senate to be similar when the
bills come to the floor later in February

"Unfortunately heroin abuse and heroin-related crimes are increasing
at an amazing rate across Wisconsin. This isn't just in our cities,
our rural areas are just as hard hit," Krug said.

The legislation takes important first steps to address the growing use
of heroin, said Marshfield Municipal Court Judge John Adam Kruse, who
is co-chairman of a committee charged with evaluating the extent of
heroin use and abuse in the Marshfield area and developing a plan to
address the issues.

Heroin use in Marshfield started to grow dramatically in 2010,
resulting in 3 heroin related deaths in 2012.

 From 2010 through 2013, the Marshfield Police Department officers
have arrested 23 people while confiscating 379 grams of heroin,
according to MPD statistics.

"As a community, Marshfield is already doing a lot to deal with drug
issues," Kruse said.

A drug investigator recently joined the MPD mainly to focus on
heroin-related crimes.

If the bills become law, the only change for the Marshfield area will
be the 911 Good Samaritan law that will grant limited immunity for a
person who calls for help for someone who has overdosed from a
controlled substance.

"I doubt the Good Samaritan legislation will do much. Heroin users and
drug users in general tend to be pretty paranoid," Kruse said.

The Marshfield Fire & Rescue Department, which provides services to a
large rural area, has been staffed by first responders certified to
administer Narcon for a while, Kruse said.

"And the city was a leader in establishing a drug drop off site at the
police department," Kruse said about the fourth H.O.P.E. bill allowing
community drug disposal programs.

"What is needed are more treatment options," Kruse
said.

The state needs to address the creation of additional treatment
options, particularly in rural areas, he said.

"We had a facility in Marshfield, but it closed," Kruse said in
reference to the former inpatient alcohol and drug treatment unit at
Ministry Saint Joseph's Hospital that closed in June 2012.

There is legislation pending that Krug has co-sponsored to address
treatment programs. The bill currently is in the Joint Finance
Committee, Krug said.

"This senate bill is a response to the high demand from counties to
create treatment and alternative incarceration programs," Krug said.
"Treatment programs are much more effective than incarcerations and
cost a fraction as much."

Prior to serving in the legislature, Krug served as the Wood County
Drug Court Coordinator.

"From the drug court perspective, I saw the power that addiction has
on individuals and it led me to start working on some ideas," Krug
said about his work with Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, whose daughter
has struggled with heroin addiction and was sentenced to a year and a
half in prison in 2009.

Marshfield will initiate a grass-roots public awareness campaign in
the fall of 2014 to educate people about heroin and other drug abuse,
Kruse said.

"Prevention is a key, along with law enforcement and treatment
programs (to reduce heroin and other drug abuse)," Kruse said.
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