The Wisconsin state Assembly is set to vote Tuesday on a package of bills designed to combat what’s been called a statewide heroin epidemic. All four are authored by Marinette Republican John Nygren, whose own daughter has struggled with a heroin addiction.
Nygren hopes the legislation will help families and those dealing with the addiction. “None of these – and I said this over and over again – none of these are silver bullets that are going to stop the problem that we face,” Nygren said.
Two of the bills deal specifically with prescription drugs, since addiction to prescription painkillers often leads to heroin addiction. One would require people show identification when picking up prescriptions from a pharmacy. The other makes it easier to establish drop off centers for prescription drugs. Another bill will allow first responders to give the antidote drug Narcan people who are overdosing, and the fourth measure provide immunity for many people reporting overdoses to 911.
