In this issue . . .
JULY 2017
Demo Day for The Branch Academy Ribbon Cuttings Calendar of Events New Members
H.O.P.E. addresses addiction epidemic
By David Eckmann, President/CEO n Monday, July 17, the Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce was invited to participate in the H.O.P.E. Bill signings with Governor Walker and other state and local leaders at DC Everest High School. H.O.P.E. is an acronym for Heroine Opioid Prevention Education.
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willingness to acknowledge and address the challenges set before it. Today, collectively, we experience the overburdening of our social service and corrections systems; begin to understand the challenges that our educators must grapple with in the classroom – beyond the teaching mission and; know the loss of productivity in the office or shop floor. There are adverse societal and financial costs.
In his comments to attendees, Governor Walker stated, “In 2014, 843 Wisconsinites died from a drug overdose, some of whom were students.” The legislation signed into law places resources in the hands of educators to fight this problem at an early age. As I stood nearby others and listened to stories shared, I was saddened to hear about the loss of loved ones and the toll heroine and opioid abuse has taken on families. This plague knows no boundaries. Those impacted include health care professionals, business professionals, manufacturing professionals – it can hit those in every walk of life. It’s very likely you have heard similar stories of friends, families, or employees on this very topic. The essential point is that the epidemic, directly or indirectly, impacts all of us and the place we call home. The measure of a strong and vibrant community is its
As a business-driven organization and convener, the Chamber plays a role in shaping and engaging in community dialogue and action. Our efforts to build and sustain a strong business community include working with professionals equipped to address problems such as heroine and opioid abuse. North Central Health Care and Marathon County AODA are at the ready to educate and provide resources to organizations and their employees. As you encounter those individuals or families in need of assistance, know that you can reach out to these organizations for services. Melissa Dotter, Program Director of the Marathon County Drug Free Communities Program has offered her assistance to help employers to connect to resources. The heroine and opioid issue we face has a human dimension that is linked directly to our challenge to identify and secure talent in the workplace and our overall economic vitality. As part of a larger challenge, we must work to resolve or minimize this issue and its adverse impacts on our community.
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