Gov. Scott Walker announced Thursday the creation of the Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse, a panel to battle opioid addiction in the state.
Walker also announced the positions on the panel, spanning law enforcement officials, public health officials, medical groups and members of the public. These members will be appointed by the governor.
Walker said the task force is necessary to combat growing opioid addiction in the state.
"We've recently seen opioid use and abuse escalate throughout Wisconsin," Walker said. "The bottom line is this has become an epidemic and every year we see more people dying from
In 2014, more Wisconsinites died from drug overdose than car accidents. Drug overdoses in the state doubled from 2004 to 2013, with opioid pain relievers contributing to a large portion of these deaths.
"We, in Wisconsin, need to change the conversation and our attitudes towards addiction," said state Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, in a statement. "Addiction affects all: rich, poor, republican, democrats, rural and urban; it knows no boundaries. Governor Walker has taken a giant step to change the conversation, and I applaud his efforts and look forward to working on this task force and continuing our conversations on a statewide level."
The task force will review existing actions taken in Wisconsin and states to combat the opioid crisis. After analyzing these actions, the panel will recommend potential actions for the state.
“This scourge is affecting our kids, our schools, and our neighborhoods,” said Lt. Governor and Task Force Co-Chair Rebecca Kleefisch. “We can't let up in the search for solutions."
