The following statement regarding today’s action by Governor Tony Evers to sign Senate Bill 600 into law is attributed to Wisconsin Society of Addiction Medicine (WISAM) President and Wisconsin Medical Society member Ritu Bhatnagar, MD:
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the opioid epidemic has continued, and Wisconsin has seen an increase in overdoses due to fentanyl. Today’s action to decriminalize the possession of fentanyl test strips is therefore very timely, as it will help make life-saving information available at critical times. Simply put: this bill can save lives.
“Kudos to Wisconsin for attending to the needs of its citizens during these difficult times. It is wonderful to see bipartisan support for the effort to address the opioid epidemic.
“Thank you to State Assembly Representative Jesse James and State Senator Van Wanggaard for their strong advocacy in this effort. WISAM looks forward to working with all policymakers to guide the state toward a community-oriented approach to getting fentanyl test strips into the hands of the people who need them the most.”
