Politics & Government

Rep. Dean Knudson Backs Bills on Heroin Abuse, Awareness

'"I am acutely aware that Wisconsin, particularly St. Croix County, has been plagued by heroin abuse,' the Hudson Republican said.

State Rep. Dean Knudson (R-Hudson) said Friday he will co-sponsor four bills known collectively as the HOPE (Heroin Opiate Prevention and Education). The legislative package would promote awareness and target the abuse of heroin and opiates in Wisconsin.

“I am acutely aware that Wisconsin, particularly St. Croix County, has been plagued by heroin abuse in recent years," Knudson said in a press release. 

The four bills, for which Knudson credited the work of Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette), would:

  • Provide limited immunity from certain criminal prosecutions for a person who brings another person to an emergency room or healthcare facility, or calls 911 for a person who is overdosing
  • Encourage the operation of community drug disposal programs statewide to accept and properly dispose of unwanted prescription drugs
  • Require those picking up opiate prescriptions to show a photo ID
  • Allow more EMTs and first responders to administer Narcan, a drug that can help counter a heroin overdose

“These bills, while not solving every problem, will go a long way toward reducing the horrible effects this scourge has had on our communities. ... We must recognize that the abuse of prescription drugs, which many of us have in our medicine cabinets, is a common gateway to heroin and opiate abuse," Knudson said. 

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“Informing our children about the dangers of abusing these drugs, while educating our communities about the potential for experimentation and abuse is the first step in stopping heroin and opiate addiction in Wisconsin. I am hopeful that this legislation will aid that process.” 

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