Grant, local consortium to address opioid abuse

A $200,000 federal grant will provide additional resources to address substance use disorders, with a special focus on opioid use disorder, in Oconto, Marinette, Menominee, Shawano and Florence counties.

The Health Resources and Services Administration grant was awarded in May to HSHS St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay, which operates Libertas Treatment Center in Marinette. The treatment center will use the grant, as well funds from the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, to lead and operate the Heroin Opioid Prevention Education, or HOPE, consortium.

The consortium will consist of representatives from several local organizations, including the Libertas Treatment Center, Prevea Health, Menominee County Human Services and Menominee Tribal Clinic/Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin.

The team aims to assess what resources are available to prevent and treat substance abuse disorders in the five-county area, identify what additional resources are needed and develop a strategic plan to strengthen and sustain treatment resources.

“Substance use disorders are on the rise across the nation — and right here in northeast Wisconsin,” said Paula Manley, executive director at Libertas. “Resources and support for treatment can be difficult to access in our rural communities. … The HOPE consortium will allow us to ramp up our efforts in preventing and treating these disorders that are having devastating effects on people of all ages and all walks of life.”