Community Report On Opioid Abuse

Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney says Drug Free Communities of Fond du Lac County and the Opioid Coalition continue to look for ways to address opioid abuse. Toney says one of their efforts is a pilot program involving the drug Vivitrol, which will be administered to inmates in the County Jail suffering from opioid withdrawal.  He says it blocks opioid receptors in the brain for 30 days. Earlier this week Toney and Fond du Lac Police Chief Bill Lamb were two of the featured speakers during a community report on the opioid problem. The event was held at the City-County Government Center. Toney says law enforcement is now referring more drug cases to his office including simple ordinance violations like possessing drug paraphernalia hoping to better track people who need help before they become addicted or commit a more serious crime. Last year there were 12 drug-related deaths in the county and there have been seven through August. A similar event will be held in Ripon on Monday, October 31st at 5:30 p.m. at the Ripon High School.