Menominee County has the highest overdose death rate in all of Wisconsin, according to statewide overdose death data. In 2022, the tribe saw 16 overdose deaths — its highest number on record.
The Menominee Indian Tribe is not the only tribe dealing with this issue. Wisconsin Department of Health Services Director of Opioid Initiatives Paul Krupski said the 12 tribal nations across the state have the highest overdose rate of any population.
“When we look at data, our tribal nations are disproportionately impacted by the opioid crisis in our state,” Krupski said during a February press conference.
A 2022 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also found national overdose death rates increased 39 percent for American Indians from 2019 to 2020. That trend isn’t slowing down, according to the CDC.
But with a renewed focus on the issue, Menominee tribal leaders are hoping to put an end to the deaths.
Three sudden overdose deaths at the start of 2022 led to an emergency meeting in March of that year and the creation of the team. Nearly a year later, representatives from tribal leadership, law enforcement, and health services are still working to tackle the issue.
Read more at WPR.org.
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