For the Tomahawk Leader
WISCONSIN – North Central Health Care (NCHC) is among more than 20 Wisconsin entities slated to receive state grant funding to assist in treating problem use of opioids and stimulants.
A Tuesday, April 25 release from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) said more than 4,000 people throughout Wisconsin will have access to treatment services following the allocation of the funds.
Opioids include prescription pain relievers, heroin and fentanyl, while stimulants include cocaine and methamphetamine, according to DHS.
Three tribal nations and 22 county agencies will receive grant funding. DHS said the grant awards are based on the level of need for treatment services in the tribal nation or county and the type of treatment services to be provided by each tribal nation and county.
A total of $216,367.00 is earmarked for NCHC, which serves Lincoln, Langlade and Marathon counties.
“This funding will be used to connect people to proven approaches to treatment,” DHS stated. “For opioid use disorder, this includes a model of care using one of three Food and Drug Administration-approved medications – buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone – as well as therapy and other recovery supports. For stimulant use disorder, this includes cognitive behavioral therapy and a practice known as the Matrix Model, which includes multiple therapies provided in a highly structured environment, as well as additional recovery supports.”
The grant awards are funded by Wisconsin’s nearly $34 million share of the latest installment of the two-year State Opioid Response Grant Program through the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
In addition to providing funding for unmet treatment needs, DHS said it is using the $16.9 million available each year through this program to invest in a variety of prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery projects, including the Dose of Reality and Real Talks Wisconsin initiatives; the distribution of NARCAN®, the opioid overdose reversal medication; and a program focused on connecting people who have experienced an overdose with recovery supports in their community.
“Since 2017, more than 17,000 people have been connected to services with this annual funding,” DHS stated. “That’s when DHS first used federal grant funding focused on addressing the opioid epidemic to support treatment needs identified by tribal nations and counties. This funding began to cover the costs of stimulant treatment in 2020.”
“Improving access to treatment is a critical part of our plan to reduce the hurt and heartbreak caused by the epidemic of problem drug use we’re living with statewide,” said DHS Secretary-designee Kirsten Johnson. “These grants will enable our local partners to remove the financial barriers to effective treatment, allowing more people to experience the promise of recovery. Recovery is possible for everyone.”
DHS said individuals with an opioid or stimulant use concern in need of financial assistance or other support to access treatment should contact their tribal nation or county health and human services agency, even if the agency is not among the grant recipients.
For information on local treatment and recovery supports, search the Wisconsin Addiction Recovery Helpline’s website (www.bit.ly/2FONdvd) or call 211.
To view a full list of grant award recipients, visit www.bit.ly/3Lw6GDT.
Individuals interested in learning strategies to build healthy communities are invited to attend the Opioids, Stimulants and Trauma Summit from Tuesday, May 16 through Thursday, May 18 either in person in Wisconsin Dells or virtually. Registration is required. The registration deadline is Thursday, May 11. Visit www.bit.ly/3L7d8A8 to view the agenda and register.