The Sconi

Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI) announced on Nov. 10 that Wisconsin will be entering into the Bloomberg Opioid Overdose Prevention Initiative.

Joining the initiative was sparked by the sharp increase in overdose numbers during the onset of the pandemic. According to the CommonWealth Fund, social isolation and economic stress contributed to the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in the U.S. in 2020: 93,331.

“The coronavirus pandemic has only underscored the crisis we are facing in our state and country with the opioid epidemic, as opioid-related deaths last year exceeded 1,000 in a single year in Wisconsin for the first time,” Evers said in a press release. “It’s more critical than ever that we get folks support and access substance use treatment and mental health services. Wisconsin is thrilled to be joining this partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies as we work tirelessly together to save lives, expand treatment and services, and build a healthier state.”

Wisconsin overdose deaths increased by over 25% in Wisconsin between 2019 and 2020 – from around 1,200 in 2019 to 1,530 in 2020, according to the CDC.

Bloomberg Philanthropies is investing $120 million to combat the opioid epidemic, $10 million of which will go to Wisconsin over the next five years. The funding will improve existing programs as well as create new programs to work toward reducing opioid deaths, according to the release.

"I'm proud Wisconsin is joining the Opioids Overdose Prevention Initiative with @BloombergDotOrg to receive $10 million to help combat our state’s opioid epidemic," Evers said in a Nov. 10 tweet. "Last year, we exceeded 1,000 opioid-related deaths for the first time – this funding is more critical than ever. The pandemic only underscored the crisis we are facing in our state and country with the opioid epidemic, and this initiative allows us to work together to save lives, expand treatment and services, and build a healthier state.”