Latest News
Discussing What’s Next for Medical Marijuana in Wisconsin
As states across the country loosen their laws on marijuana, momentum is gaining for a medical plan in Wisconsin. Assembly Republicans unveiled legislation this month that would allow residents with chronic diseases to access the drug from state-run dispensaries. But Senate Republicans have been less receptive to the concept and Democrats are pushing for full legalization. Meanwhile, the state’s doctors say there hasn’t been enough research on its efficacy.
A Wisconsin Health News virtual panel will examine what’s next for medical marijuana in the state and what impact it could have on patients.
Panelists:
REGISTER HERE
Statewide tour will include local community leaders and partners to talk about what we can do to save lives
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) are announcing a series of roundtable discussions to hear directly from local communities who are working toward preventing overdose deaths in the state and helping Wisconsinites struggling with opioid use.
“We are calling these roundtable discussions a “Dose of Reality” because we want to hear the reality of Wisconsinites experiences in their own communities,” said DHS Secretary-designee Kirsten Johnson. “We want to understand our partners’ current situation, hear what is needed to address opioid use in their community, and celebrate their successes.”
Last year, 1,421 Wisconsinites died by opioid overdose. There were also 2,530 opioid-related trips to emergency departments, and 978 hospitalizations. Drugs mixed with fentanyl account for most of the overdose deaths.
View the entire news release.
Northwest Milwaukee site to join effort to test model emphasizing care coordination in the treatment of substance use disorder
The Department of Health Services (DHS) will be adding a fourth site to a program initiated in 2020 that pilots a hub and spoke approach to treating Wisconsin Medicaid members affected by substance use disorder and physical and behavioral health issues that challenge their efforts in recovery. Vin Baker Recovery of Milwaukee was selected in a process earlier this year. The organization's startup costs as a pilot program participant will be funded through Wisconsin’s 2022 share of the National Prescription Opiate Litigation settlement. Nearly all of those funds have been distributed to agencies providing prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support.
Under the pilot, individual organizations take the lead as a “hub” on the care of people in their program, ensuring that substance use disorder treatment and other health care needs are addressed. Hub teams include peer providers who have lived experience with substance use to improve member engagement with their treatment. Each team develops individualized integrated care plans, implements those plans through connections and referrals, and facilitates members’ treatment across different settings. Each hub then works with a network of “spoke” organizations that provide a range of services customized to further address each member’s unique circumstances.
“Adding a site to this promising pilot will increase our understanding of how this model works in another setting,” said DHS Secretary-designee Kirsten Johnson. “Better yet, it means more members can receive individualized services and improved access to the necessary physical health care providers, prescribers, and behavior health specialists, leading to better overall health outcomes.”
The Wisconsin Addiction Recovery Helpline reached a significant milestone this month – five years of connecting state residents experiencing substance use concerns with local services and support. This free and confidential service supported by a grant from the Department Health Services (DHS) and managed by 211 Wisconsin debuted in October 2018 as part of efforts by state officials to reduce drug overdoses. Since then, staff have answered 31,591 calls, texts, and chats from all 72 Wisconsin counties and nine of the 11 federally recognized Tribal nations with members in Wisconsin. These contacts resulted in 78,646 referrals to agencies providing substance use disorder assessment services, counseling, inpatient care, residential care, outpatient care, medication-assisted treatment, and supports from people in recovery from a substance use disorder trained to help others.
“For five years, the Wisconsin Addiction Recovery Helpline has offered people hope at a time when they may feel overwhelmed by what steps to take for health and healing,” said DHS Secretary-designee Kirsten Johnson. “Staffed by caring, trained specialists, it is a safe, trusted resource to turn to for information. We are grateful for the work of 211 Wisconsin and all the people who have made this service a success.”
Dear WISAM Members,
Happy October! It is with both gratitude and hope that I share my outgoing newsletter as President of the Wisconsin Society of Addiction Medicine. I wanted to take some time to reflect on the past two years.
As an organization, we have continued to be very active in educational, legislative, and treatment areas. We have published letters to the editor on salient topics, remain with representation on multiple state councils (SCAODA, MEB, WMS COL, CSB, Medicaid Advisory Committee), and have continued being part of the Good Samaritan Coalition to change how people are treated after an overdose.
We have had two annual conferences during my tenure, and the most recent in the Wisconsin Dells had many great first experiences for WISAM at this conference. This included poster presentations, art displays from people in recovery, and more regional representation than has ever occurred before! We are looking at being part of future regional conferences and it is a grand opportunity for us to find support from other states and discuss how to navigate the ever-changing landscape of the treatment of addiction. We were privileged to have national keynote speakers Yngvild Olsen, SAMHSA, and Dr. Brian Hurley, President of ASAM, interspersed among many intriguing discussions ranging from Harm Reduction (Dr. Elizabeth Salisbury-Afshar) to Cannabis Legislation Considerations (Dr. Doris Gundersen).
The COVID pandemic has officially been sunsetted, but the impact on telemedicine and our ability to provide access to services continues to be noted. For instance, addiction treatment providers and researchers proved that people can effectively access life-saving treatment without needing in-person visits. The DEA has just extended pandemic-era waivers for controlled prescription prescribing until December 2024.
Wisconsin DHS changed requirements for treating substance use disorders. On the heels of those changes, federal law changed so that prescribers no longer need a Buprenorphine waiver to treat people with this treatment from any office. This paved the way for WISAM to develop and implement an 8-hour SUD-focused training for primary care providers. We will just need to hang on for the ride and support each other through the next inevitable changes with an eye towards novel partnerships and shared solutions!
It has been an honor to lead this organization for the past two years and be a part of good ideas becoming reality. I remain inspired by our membership and hope that we can continue to support each other moving forward in treating addiction and saving lives.
Thanks for your interest and participation with WISAM - please stay involved with Open Exchanges in 2024!
In gratitude,
National Addiction Treatment Week is a pivotal, annual event that spotlights the addiction treatment gap and champions compassionate, evidence-based approaches to care. Supported by the Wisconsin Society of Addiction Medicine. This weeklong initiative amplifies three life-saving messages:
1. Addiction is a chronic, treatable medical disease.2. Effective treatments are available.3. Recovery is not only possible but achievable.
By sharing the stories and experiences of dedicated practitioners who provide care to patients with addiction, we aim to end the stigma surrounding addiction and encourage medical professionals to embrace individualized, compassionate addiction care.
Why Should You Get Involved?
This year, we are showcasing how the treatment of addiction has a profound positive impact on both a physician's career and a patient's life. By actively participating, you can:
1. Learn from Your Peers: Gain invaluable insights from firsthand accounts shared by addiction medicine specialists who have made transformative differences in their patients' lives through evidence-based care.
2. Be a Stigma Buster: Your active engagement plays a pivotal role in eradicating the stigma attached to addiction and fostering a more supportive environment for individuals seeking help.
3. Inspire Lasting Change: By sharing these compelling stories, you inspire fellow medical professionals to explore the world of compassionate and individualized addiction care.
How Can You Participate and Access the Toolkit?
To take an active role in this important initiative and access the comprehensive toolkit, click here.
Your involvement will elevate awareness, reduce stigma, and ignite transformative change in the landscape of addiction treatment. Explore the toolkit, share your own experiences, and actively engage on social media using #TreatmentWeek.
Unlock the potential of National Addiction Treatment Week 2023 and join us in shaping a future where compassionate, evidence-based addiction care is accessible to all who need it. Your commitment is invaluable, and we are excited to embark on this remarkable journey with you.
ThedaCare (through generous support of the ThedaCare Family of Foundations and Wisconsin Society of Addiction Medicine) is pleased to offer a complimentary CME Event, Stemming the Tide of the Overdose Epidemic for a second time this year.
This CME event allows providers to meet the new requirement of 8 hours of addiction medicine training to renew and maintain DEA license. The day will consist of education and information on effective and evidence based treatment for substance use disorders, as well as interesting panel discussions and practical tips to help you implement substance use disorder treatment into your clinical practice.
We are very excited about the interest in this event. We wanted to answer some questions that have come up about the CME event and provide some context for the new DEA requirement. Attached are some answers to frequently asked questions as well as resources for additional training and support that is available.
Details and registration below:
Thank you and hope to see you on October 28th!
Dr. Ezra Lyon
Associate Medical Director or Integrated Addiction Treatment
Heather Pagel
Manager, Integrated Behavioral Health
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, Chief Health Policy Advisor Dr. Ben Weston, Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) Executive Director Shakita LaGrant-McClain, and Behavioral Health Services (BHS) are announcing the placement of 11 Harm Reduction Vending Machines to reduce injury and death from overdose, at locations across the county, informed by data and need. The machines provide free access to harm reduction and prevention supplies, including fentanyl test strips, nasal naloxone, medication deactivation pouches, medication lock bags, and gun locks. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), harm reduction is an evidence-based practice to prevent death for people who use drugs. In 2022, there were 667 drug overdose deaths in Milwaukee County. “The opioid epidemic reaches communities in all parts of the county. It crosses all socio-economic, demographic and age ranges – there is no ‘type’ of person who succumbs to opioid addiction. Last year’s opioid settlement allow us to get to work right away funding projects that will help save lives and mitigate continued suffering for residents and their loved ones,” said County Executive Crowley. “Milwaukee County has been on the frontlines of this battle for years in the court system, and now we take the next step in bringing crucial resources to the doorstep of the communities that need them the most. By following the data and investing in the communities with the highest need, I am optimistic we will make our communities safer and healthier and help residents begin or continue their road to recovery.”
Click Here for Vending Machine Locations
Click Here to Read More
August 31 is International Overdoes Awareness Day, the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose. Today we:
The following article was posted on the American Society of Addition Medicine on August 30. It was written by Dr Nicholas Athanasiou (Editor-in-Chief) and summarizes the growing impact of overdoes in our world.
Drug use and overdose rates are a concern for the public’s health. A new report from the CDC looks at how overdose rates during the pandemic varied across different industries and work settings while highlighting significant health equity issues in the US (National Vital Statistics Report). It’s hard not to think about “deaths of despair” when reading this, but then an article from TIME reminds us that “deaths of despair” might be too narrow a view because there is more to "despair-ism" than originally conceptualized.
Data from Monitoring the Future found that young adults report using marijuana and hallucinogens at or near historically high levels while middle-aged adults report record levels of binge drinking (NIDA News). Maybe Generation X is responding to the difficulties of being sandwiched between two hippie generations.
Cannabis is now the most commonly used illegal (federal) drug in pregnancy, which means that perinatal research needs to close the knowledge gap quickly -- both for maternal and paternal use -- so we can better guide clinicians, develop policy, and inform the public (JAMA). A review on nitrous oxide toxicity reminds us that use of a cheap and easily accessible substance should be included on our differentials, especially when seeing youth and young adults with unusual gait (CMAJ).
More globally, Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria is looking to spread addiction and turmoil to global enemies by dealing a new amphetamine-type stimulant called captagon (The Messenger). Evidently, drug use and overdose rates are a concern for geopolitical foes too.
Thanks for reading,
Nicholas Athanasiou, MD, MBA, DFASAM Editor in Chief with Co-Editors: Brandon Aden, MD, MPH, FASAM, Debra R. Newman, PA-C, MSPAS, MPH, Jack Woodside, MD, John A. Fromson, MD
Wisconsin Health News
A national philanthropic effort to fight the opioid crisis on Monday released more details on its work in Wisconsin.
The Bloomberg Philanthropies Overdose Prevention Initiative launched in 2018 in two states and expanded its work to five more, including Wisconsin, in 2021. To date, Bloomberg Philanthropies has put $170 million toward the overall initiative.
The initiative supports Vital Strategies, which is working in Wisconsin to help provide the anti-overdose reversal drug naloxone, fentanyl test strips and information resources. It's also supporting the Department of Health Services in how to best use funding and programming for overdose deaths. The effort also backs harm reduction services and awareness efforts in Black and Indigenous communities.
“Working together, we can avoid the loss of life from drug overdoses and help those with substance use disorder on the path to recovery,” DHS Secretary-designee Kirsten Johnson said in a statement.
On Monday, Vital Strategies said it is:
Wisconsin Society of Addiction Medicine563 Carter Court, Suite B,Kimberly, WI 54136