MADISON, WI (WTAQ-METRO) – Governor Scott Walker says his Task Force on Opioid Abuse will hold its first meeting October 28th in Green Bay to look at ways to deal with the growing epidemic.
He appointed 20 people to the panel this week, which will be co-chaired by Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and state Representative John Nygren.
Walker notes more people were killed by drug overdoses in the state in 2014 than car accidents, and the number of overdose deaths doubled from 2004 to 2014.
Prescription pain killers accounted for 47-percent of the deaths, while heroin is blamed for 32-percent.
One of the offensives in the fight took place last Saturday.
Drug Take Back Day in Wisconsin was a statewide effort to help fight prescription drug abuse by having people bring their unwanted medications to locations in their area.
Officials across Northeast Wisconsin claim the day was a success.
Sgt. Kurt Zempel with the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department says that more than 357 pounds of unused prescription medication was collected from the community.
Volunteers and law enforcement coordinated 5 take-back locations throughout the county.
