Survey Seeks Feedback on Use of Opioid Settlement Funds

Sauk County, Wis. – In the next few years, Sauk County will receive at least $2 million in Opioid Settlement funds as the result of national lawsuits. The county is looking for feedback on how to use these funds locally to continue to address the opioid crisis. A survey is available for the public to take through October 31, 2023.

“Our communities have been deeply impacted by the ongoing opioid crisis,” says Sara Jesse, Community Health Strategist for Public Health Sauk County and co-administrator of the survey. Jesse explains that in Sauk County in the past 20 years, there have been extreme increases in both the use of illegal opioids, like heroin and fentanyl, and the misuse of prescription pain medication, defined as using painkillers other than as prescribed. “There have been serious costs to people, their loved ones, and society,” she says, citing as examples increases in human suffering, health care spending, criminal justice issues, and lost productivity.

Jessica Mijal, Director of the Sauk County Department of Human Services and co-administrator of the survey, encourages all those connected to Sauk County to provide feedback, and especially those impacted by substance use disorder. “It’s important for us to hear from those who have been affected by this crisis so that we can direct funding towards local needs and priorities.” 

To complete the survey, please visit https://bit.ly/surveysauk. For paper surveys, please contact Sara Jesse at Public Health Sauk County: 608-355-3290 or Sara.jesse@saukcountywi.gov.

Posted on September 14, 2023

Contact:

Sara Jesse, Community Health Strategist, Public Health Sauk County
608-355-4308 Sara.jesse@saukcountywi.gov

and
Jessica Mijal, Director, Sauk County Department of Human Services
(608) 355-4211 jessica.mijal@saukcountywi.gov

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