Sen. Tammy Baldwin visited the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s new center focused on opioid response Monday to highlight the importance of allocating federal funds to combat the opioid crisis.
The Wisconsin Opioid Overdose Response Center (WOORC), which is set to launch this year, will give pharmacies in the state resources including educational information, naloxone and fentanyl testing strips to combat the opioid epidemic. WOORC will place a special focus on fentanyl as part of its efforts to combat the opioid epidemic, which accounts for over 75% of annual opioid overdose deaths.
“The idea that here they're being extremely proactive in the programming as well as the research to try to put an end to this epidemic, I was very impressed with what's going on and very honored to have been a part of bringing a $2 million grant to this effort,” Baldwin said.
Last year, Baldwin helped secure $2 million in federal funding to establish a regional center at UW-Madison to combat the fentanyl crisis across the state. With recent attempts by President Donald Trump to freeze federal grants and loans, Baldwin is worried funds could be cut.
“I’ve heard from countless Wisconsinites who have lost friends, family, neighbors and loved ones to this epidemic. Whether it’s stopping drugs from coming into the country or supporting Wisconsin universities’ groundbreaking research, I’m committed to fighting the opioid crisis on all fronts,” Baldwin said. “The work being done here will save lives, and that’s why I’m sending a loud and clear message that the President cannot cut off funding for vital programs like these.”
Opioid overdoses in Wisconsin increased by 46% between 2014 and 2019, with trends continuing to rise through 2022, according to data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. More than 75% of annual opioid deaths can be attributed to the fentanyl crisis.
Although the majority of opioid overdoses result from drugs obtained illegally, initial exposure often occurs through a prescription for opioid pain medication. This emphasizes the importance of appropriate prescribing practices, according to Andrew Quanbeck, an associate professor of family medicine and community health at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
The center, led by Cody Wenthur, an associate professor in the School of Pharmacy’s Pharmacy Practice and Translational Research Division, and Jay Ford, an associate professor in the School’s Social and Administrative Sciences Division, plans to be fully operational by September 2025.
