Wisconsin’s Heroin Epidemic: Strategies and Solutions

In recognition of the growing heroin problem, the Wisconsin State Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (SCAODA) established the Heroin Ad-hoc Committee in November 2013. The Ad-hoc Committee was charged with researching and discussing the incidence of heroin use and overdoses in Wisconsin. The Ad-hoc Committee researched and discussed programs that could be used to prevent the use of heroin, the legal and social consequences of heroin use and substance use disorders (SUDs), harm reduction strategies and treatment options to create safer and healthier communities. In particular, the committee examined the Four Pillar drug strategy focusing on prevention, harm reduction, treatment and law enforcement. In addition, the Committee included workplace strategies as a fifth pillar. The Ad-hoc Committee was charged with providing a recommendation report to SCAODA regarding programming that could be implemented to prevent and reduce the harm associated with heroin use and assist communities in dealing with heroin-related public health consequences.