In the battle against opioid overdoses, Waukesha County stands at the forefront, declaring fentanyl a Community Health Crisis in August 2022.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 100 times more potent than morphine, has ravaged communities nationwide, and Waukesha County is taking proactive steps to combat its deadly grip.
Our initiatives are not just words on paper—they're actions with impact:
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Community Partnerships: Teaming up with organizations like Waukesha County Sheriff's Office; Waukesha County Medical Examiner's Office; Waukesha County Heroin Task Force; SOFA, Inc; and Love, Logan Foundation, we're pooling resources and expertise to tackle this crisis head-on.
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Prevention and Intervention: From distributing opioid settlement funds to support Narcan training and pre-trial diversion programs to implementing Overdose Fatality Review initiatives, we're investing in strategies that save lives.
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Education and Awareness: Through local public information campaigns like the 'You Can Save a Life' initiative, we're spreading awareness about the dangers of Fentanyl-laced drugs and the beneits of naloxone, empowering our community to make informed choices.
But our journey began long before the crisis was declared. Since 2017, we've been dedicated to reducing opioid overdose deaths in Waukesha County through:
- Identifying risk and protective factors for all residents
- Offering free naloxone administration trainings
- Providing naloxone kits to those in need
- Conducting opiate overdose prevention education sessions
- Extending support to overdose survivors through our crisis system
Ready to join the fight against overdose? Explore our resources, get involved, and help us save lives. Together, we can turn the tide against opioid overdoses in Waukesha County and beyond.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Issues Public Health Advisory to Warn of the Risks of Death from Drugs Laced with Fentanyl (August 17, 2022)
Read more HERE.
To learn more about services for Alcohol and Other Substances from Waukesha County Health & Human Services, click HERE.
This work to prevent prescription drug/opioid overdose related deaths is funded by a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services with funds provided by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The current state of misuse and abuse of opiods is a public health crisis in Wisconsin. Read a "Dose of Reality: Opioids in Wisconsin" from the WI Dept of Health Services HERE.
