Senator Baldwin Holds Roundtable with Wisconsin Tribal Leaders to Discuss Tackling Opioid and Fentanyl Epidemic
American Indian and Alaska Native people experience higher overdose death rates than any other racial or ethnic group in America
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) held a virtual roundtable with Tribal leaders from across Wisconsin to discuss their work combatting the opioid and fentanyl crisis and what more can be done to help Tribal communities save lives.
“Too many families know the pain of losing a loved one too soon to a drug overdose or poisoning. Our Tribal communities are often hit the hardest by the opioid epidemic, and I’m committed to ensuring they have the resources they need to save lives, help those suffering, and keep these deadly drugs out of our communities,” said Senator Baldwin. “I convened a group of Tribal leaders to discuss how federal support I helped deliver is making a difference, and how we can continue working together to combat this deadly epidemic.”
Senator Baldwin was joined by leaders from the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa, Ho-Chunk Nation, Lac du Flambeau Tribe, Menominee Tribe, Sokaogon Chippewa Tribe, Oneida Nation, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians.
In 2022, Wisconsin saw more than 1,350 opioid overdose or poisoning deaths, a 60 percent increase from five years earlier. American Indians or Alaska Natives had a higher drug overdose death rate than any other racial or ethnic group, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Increasingly, synthetic drugs like fentanyl are accelerating the rate of drug overdoses and poisonings. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly 108,000 Americans died between August 2021 and August 2022 from drug poisonings, with 66 percent of those deaths involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl. In 2021, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services found synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, caused 91 percent of opioid deaths in Wisconsin.
“I would like to acknowledge and say Yaw^ko (thank you) to Senator Baldwin for keeping the opioid epidemic front and center during these tough times,” said Tehassi Hill, Chairman for Oneida Nation. “It is very important to tribes across the country that we are at the table with the federal government when discussing issues that affect our people and our Nations.”
“The Stockbridge-Munsee Community continues to see the very real impacts from the substance abuse disorder crisis in its community and applauds Senators Baldwin and Shaheen’s efforts to combat the opioid crisis felt all over America. The opioid epidemic is a national public health crisis impacting individuals, families, and communities across the country. American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) have been particularly hard hit by this crisis that has devastated many of our communities. The crisis has also strained our communities’ law enforcement, health care, foster care, and other social services programs. The crisis is a tremendous burden for many Tribal communities. The State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act will greatly assist Tribes with additional guidance on how funding can be better used to increase access to recovery support services, including services to address housing needs, transportation needs, food insecurity, employment, and family services and bring vital healing to our Tribal Communities,” said Shannon Holsey, President of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians.
“Red Cliff appreciates Senator Baldwin's office and sincere efforts to prioritize the drug challenges that plague WI indigenous people. We strongly believe that addressing substance abuse must begin with addressing root causes including poverty, lack of stable, good-paying jobs, and family disruptions with lack of adequate social support. This must be supported with prevention, treatment and aftercare funding. We believe Senator Baldwin's office to be allies in the fight against substance abuse and securing the resources necessary to succeed," said Nicole Boyd, Chairwoman of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.
“The Menominee Tribe appreciates the partnership we have built with Senator Baldwin and the support for the fight against the substance abuse crisis. We recently launched a recovery coach program that allows certified coaches to apply for employment through our treatment facility to put their skills to use with those currently dealing with addiction. Thank you, Senator Baldwin, for your continued support,” said Gena Kakkak, Menominee Tribal Chairwoman.
“The Sokaogon Chippewa is such a small community so when an overdose happens, it really hits the community. The Sokaogon Chippewa Tribe is placing Narcan machines in the community to prevent overdoses, implementing a needle exchange along with a sharps container return incentive and having resources available 24 hours a day. We are trying to keep the community not only clean, but keep our members safe,” said Robert Van Zile, Jr., Chairman of the Sokaogon Chippewa Tribe. “We have people that want to help and work here but we do not have room in our clinic. We know an expansion/new clinic will enable us to serve more people and combat the opioid epidemic. State and Federal funding grant dollars are critical as anything can help.”
Senator Baldwin has worked to increase access to the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone and increase resources for local and Tribal communities to better combat the opioid and substance use disorder epidemic, successfully including funding for both programs in last year’s budget. As Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, Senator Baldwin is also working to increase funding for these programs in the upcoming year’s government funding legislation.
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