The Sconi

MADISON, Wis. – Today, Attorney General Josh Kaul commenced a series of visits with recipients of the EMS Leave Behind Program, funded by state opioid settlement funds secured by the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ). The program enables EMS professionals to distribute overdose prevention tools and resources at the scene of care or after hospital transport to patients and their social networks.

“Naloxone and fentanyl test strips prevent overdose deaths,” said Attorney General Kaul. “Thank you to the first responders who are helping to make these products more available.”

Michelle Haese, DHS Director of Substance Use Initiatives, added, “As EMS are often among the first to arrive on the scene of an overdose, this program is a great tool to help people with opioid use disorder get on the path to recovery and to avoid preventable deaths from opioid overdoses.”

The EMS Leave Behind Program aims to expand access to life-saving tools for individuals at high risk for overdose. It provides funding for Narcan® and fentanyl test strip supplies for distribution through a Leave Behind Program. DHS has awarded 21 agencies $572,159 for this initiative.

Recipients include:

- City of Lake Geneva Fire Department - $6,990

- Deer Grove EMS - $15,000

- City of Franklin Fire Department - $11,916

- City of Greenfield Fire Department - $15,930

- Gunderson Tri State Ambulance - $10,000

- City of Kenosha Fire Department - $6,656

- Laona Rescue Unit - $17,771

- Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin - $15,080

- Menomonee Falls Fire Department - $7,990

- Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management - $40,916

- City of Milwaukee Fire Department - $123,995

- North Shore Fire and Rescue - $70,000

- Northwestern Municipal EMS - $2,752

- City of Oak Creek Fire Department - $14,999

- Oconto Falls Area Ambulance - $26,740

- Orange Cross Ambulance - $9,827

- Portage County EMS - $15,000

- City of Racine Fire Department - $40,493

- City of South Milwaukee Fire Department - $58,000

- City of St. Croix Falls Fire Department - $3,105

-Town of Beloit Fire Department –$59 000

About the National Prescription Opiate Litigation Settlement with Opioid Distributors and Manufacturers

Wisconsin is set to receive over $750 million through 2038. Thirty percent will fund state government projects while the remainder will address local needs identified by county and municipal governments involved in the litigation. The national opioid settlement fund agreements aim for funding usage in prevention, intervention treatment and recovery support services.