GREEN BAY, Wis. – Today, Attorney General Brad Schimel announced the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ), in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)Great Lakes Health Care System, is now offering a Dose of Reality to military veterans and active service members on the dangers of misusing opioid and narcotic pain medications. This new phase features customized brochures, flyers, posters, and social media graphics targeted at military veterans and active service members and their influencers – family members, friends, and fellow service members.

“Here’s a dose of reality: U.S. veterans are two times more likely than non-veterans to suffer from a fatal overdose from opiates,” said Attorney General Schimel. “Partnering with the VA on this new phase of Dose of Reality will give military veterans and active service members, and their families, the tools and resources to prevent opioid abuse.”

DOJ’s partnership with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs is the latest in a long list of organizations, representing numerous vocations and stakeholders, supporting the Dose of Reality campaign to prevent prescription painkiller abuse in Wisconsin.

“Veterans Integrated Service Network 12 is excited to team up with the Wisconsin Department of Justice on this first-of-its-kind partnership to proactively address the risks of opioid abuse and addiction,” said Renee Oshinski, Network Director, Veterans Integrated Service Network 12. “Since 2013, when the VA established its Opioid Safety Initiative (OSI), VA has made significant progress in reducing opioid prescribing. Along with our federal agency partners, VA is making headway treating opioid addiction by providing programs nationwide to support veterans.”

Dose of Reality, is a statewide prevention campaign designed to raise awareness about prescription drug abuse and its effect on the opioid epidemic. The campaign was launched in September 2015, and has prevention messages for the medical community, students, coaches, parents, educators, employers, tribal communities, and now, military veterans and active service members. The Dose of Reality campaign has also been adopted and deployed statewide in Arkansas, Georgia, Maine, Minnesota, and Nebraska.

Anyone can download these free materials and share them in their community at doseofrealitywi.gov/program-materials.

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