Contact: Rep. John Nygren (888) 534-0089
Madison — State Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) released the following statement immediately following Governor Walker’s announcement executive orders aimed at continuing the fight against the opioid epidemic facing the state:
“I was honored to travel to Eau Claire to join Governor Walker, Lt. Governor Kleefisch, police officers, sheriff’s deputies, doctors, EMTs, and the families of overdose victims and people with lived experience, to announce executive orders pertaining to the opioid epidemic in Wisconsin.”
Governor Scott Walker announced a series of executive actions aimed at prevention, treatment and recovery. Highlighted in the announcement was the creation of a hub-and-spoke delivery system. The state will begin the process of analyzing the development of a hub-and-spoke model of treatment delivery. Originally utilized in Vermont, a hub-and-spoke model has shown to have a dramatic impact on treatment access and care.
“In addition to the number of executive actions put forth by Governor Walker, Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and I, as co-chairs of the Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse, have put forward a number of policy proposals.”
The bill provides increased funding for drug trafficking grants, to be used to fund innovative ways to prevent the flow of drugs into and throughout Wisconsin. The bill also includes additional full time drug prosecutors to assist northern Wisconsin District Attorneys. The two additional attorneys will be assisting the division of criminal investigation in the field offices of Wausau and Appleton
In addition to many other provisions, the bill includes $1.5 million for grants to be used by county jails to provide a non-narcotic, non-addictive, injectable medically assisted treatment to inmates who will be released into the community within five days of receiving the treatment
“I would like to thank my co-chair, Lieutenant Governor Kleefisch for her continued partnership and dedication to this important issue. Additionally, I would like to thank my colleagues on the task force for the hard work and enthusiasm. Without enthusiastic stakeholders and partners, we would not be able to accomplish all that we have in the last few years. Wisconsin is the national leader on this issue because of the hard work done by everyone.”
