LA CROSSE, Wis. (WEAU) – Viterbo University is hosting its second annual RESPOND Together summit.
RESPOND grant director Erin Miess says the event provides education to providers about how to best serve people who are struggling with substance and opioid use disorders.
“We have a variety of different providers in the room today. We’re hearing from speakers who have live experience with substance use disorder and providers who currently serve people. We want everybody in the room to talk about what we’re doing well for people, and what areas we need to improve on to best our people,” says Miess.
Miess says discussion of opioid use is important because of the impact it has had on the community.
“What we’ve learned from providers today, and what we know from the data is that issue continues to grow. We continue to see a rise in people with opioid use disorder. We also continue to see a rise in the deaths related to opioid use disorder,” says Miess.
President of the Mental Health Coalition of the Greater La Crosse Area Mike Desmond says it is also important for providers to focus on mental health.
“People who are not in good mental health are more likely to get involved with drugs of any kind. I’m more into let’s not just look at drugs as the problem, let’s look at why they use drugs as being the problem,” says Desmond.
Desmond says he appreciates the focus that has been put on mental health and opioid use by members of the La Crosse area.
“It’s become a top priority of The United Way. It’s become a big priority of the La Crosse Community Foundation. There are several non-profits in town who have tried to take on the task of doing something about what is a mental health crisis,” says Desmond.
The annual summit is paid by a $1.4 million Health Resources and Services Administration Respond Program Grant awarded to Viterbo University.
You can find information on services to address substance use in La Crosse County here.
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Viterbo Universtiy holds summit to address opioid crisis
