News

Rural drug addiction issues discussed by USDA, panel

Opiate-based drug addiction in rural areas is being called an epidemic and a national emergency.

A panel of eighteen medical, social service, law enforcement, and government agency representatives met at the University of Wisconsin Arlington Agricultural Research Center Friday.  They made it clear the misuse of illegal and prescription opioid drugs is a serious problem in rural communities, and not just urban areas.  They agreed access to coordinated care and adequate funding are two of the big obstacles.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack’s Senior Policy Analyst Jeff Eschmeyer says they are trying to use resources in ways to get at the root of the drug epidemic.  “The USDA has kind of a special relationship with rural America, and we can provide some perspective there on how to hopefully deliver the message, and also looking at how existing resources might be able to be utilized in creative ways that are going to get the treatment resources in place and bring the awareness to the issue that it needs.”

President Obama is calling for 1.1 billion dollars to address addiction to heroin and prescription drugs, and named Secretary Vilsack to lead the inter-agency efforts.

The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act was recently signed into law.  Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin says the act addresses several areas but needs funding.  Baldwin tells Brownfield, “One of the things missing, and I would say it’s not comprehensive because this element is missing, is an investment of federal dollars to help localities, states, non-profit agencies implement some of the ideas that are embodied in the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act.”

Baldwin told the panel she’s been to several of these round-table discussions in Wisconsin, and hears too many stories about families losing loved ones.  She says opioids like heroin are the main problem in central and eastern Wisconsin, but rural methamphetamine labs are the main concern in western Wisconsin.  She also cited a U.S. Senate Democrats report from Thursday showing over 80% of addicted people needing treatment are unable to access services.

USDA’s Wisconsin State Director of Rural Development Stan Gruszynski says many people perceive the agency simply as meat inspectors, but says the USDA also helps finance community programs like telemedicine, low income housing, and the expansion of hospitals and rehabilitation centers.  He says having all of the pieces in place to help recovering addicts is important because, “You can’t plop a clinic in a cornfield and solve the problem.”

Panelist Dr. Michael Miller from Rogers Memorial Hospital in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, told the panel there is a need for additional transitional housing for recovering addicts, and would like to see USDA put some resources into that need.

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection Secretary Ben Brancel says his agency has seen changes because of opioid and other drug use in rural areas.  Now, he says they hear from law enforcement about methamphetamine production hidden in rural areas. Brancel says the addiction problem is also damaging families and breaking down neighbor relations, which in rural Wisconsin means everything.   The Secretary says most of the distressed calls they used to get were related to economics, like commodity prices falling.  Now, Brancel says the calls are more diverse, and they have several reports of drug-related family issues causing stress in farm operations.

Wisconsin’s Legislature and Governor Scott Walker have pushed through a series of new laws in the past few years designed to help fight the opioid addiction issues.  State Representative John Nygren, whose daughter Cassie battles addiction, is the primary author of 17 state laws in the Hope Agenda, or Heroin Opiate Prevention and Education agenda.  Since 2014, Wisconsin has created laws allowing opioid antagonists like Naloxone (Narcan) to be more available, enacted a Good Samaritan law, and expanded drug treatment options.   Eschmeyer says these laws are being used as examples for Secretary Vilsack’s team as possible models for use around the country.

Eschmeyer says it will be challenging to reach some addicts who grew up in a rural culture of keeping to themselves and solving their own problems.  He says addiction is a disease and patients and families should reach out for help.

Panelists often commented on how legal prescription drugs like Oxycodone are misused and lead to addiction.  Dr. Miller says it’s time to lock up these medicines, much like you would child proof your home if small children are present.  Law enforcement agencies are also expanding their free drug take back collection boxes, where unwanted prescriptions can be dropped off for proper disposal.  The next national Drug Take-Back Day is Saturday, October 22^nd.  Drop off locations can be found on the DEA website, here.

USDA’s Jeff Eschmeyer, Secretary Tom Vilsack’s Chief Policy Analyst, discusses rural opioid epidemic with Brownfield’s Larry Lee 10/14/16.

Wisconsin U.S. Senator Tammy  Baldwin shares opioid round table information and federal efforts with Brownfield’s Larry Lee 10/14/16.