WCA Releases Web Extra on The Impact of Wisconsin’s Drug Epidemic on Children

Due to the rapid increase in opioid and methamphetamine use, Wisconsin county child protective service divisions are managing higher and higher caseloads. The December edition of Wisconsin Counties magazine included a comprehensive collection of articles exploring this troubling trend.  

In light of last week’s report released from Governor Scott Walker and the Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse calling for a special session to combat the scourge of these drugs, WCA has released a web extra further exploring this topic.  This electronic document includes an array of materials, including articles and reports available from different sources.  

View the Wisconsin Counties web extra here.

“This conversation is a top priority and we are proud to work alongside Governor Walker, Lieutenant Governor Kleefisch, Representative John Nygren and the entire legislature in the upcoming special session to address this epidemic,” said WCA Executive Director Mark D. O’Connell. “This web extra is an example of what we are doing to keep the conversation going on this topic and highlight the impact of opioids on Wisconsin’s youngest citizens.”

According to O’Connell, the increased incidences of heroin and opioid use across the state are having a staggering effect on families. Counties are seeing its impact on the street, in jails, courts and the most vulnerable citizens – young children.  County human services departments statewide have seen increased out-of-home placement costs as parents struggling with addiction are unable to safely care for their children.

The report included many recommendations that will assist counties in fighting substance abuse. This includes additional treatment, alternative, and diversion (TAD) funding, new dollars for innovative community coalitions, additional training dollars, and new data analytics to assist counties in targeting abuse prevention and treatment dollars.