MONROE — In 2013, Mary Friedrichs saw her life change when her son, Michael Friedrichs, then 25, died of a drug overdose. Michael’s death was only one of six in the county to be caused by an overdose that year, according to Wisconsin Department of Health Services drug overdose death data.

Now, seven years later, the number of yearly deaths caused by opiates and other drugs in the county remains steady, with six drug overdose deaths in 2018. However, the percentage of drug use has continued to rise, according to the Green County Human Services 2019 Annual Report, which was shared at the Nov. 10 County Board meeting.

“With folks being more isolated, there’s maybe the tendency to want to escape more,” AODA director Bob Gibbons said.

The numbers aren’t all bad, however. Though overall drug use has trended upwards in the last decade, 2019 marked the second year in a row that opioid use has trended down in the county, the report said. 

Gibbons said that, though the numbers for 2020 have not yet been finalized, the two-year trend of decreasing use can indicate that the many community programs put in place to help those with addiction issues have been working.

Methamphetamine use, however, nearly doubled in 2019, according to the report. That marks three years in a row with such an increase in methamphetamine usage.

Support is out there

About one year after Michael’s death, Friedrichs was approached by Jackie Moon, another mother met with substance abuse issues in the family, with the idea to start some type of organization or event to help other families in their situations.

That August, they hosted the first FAITH Addition Awareness Run/Walk.

Since then, the organization has worked to bring awareness to the community and to help those struggling to find the support they need.

FAITH has brought speakers to area schools, offered financial help to struggling community members and worked to eliminate the stigma surrounding drug addiction.

“It’s still an area where people feel they need to hide is and we want them to know that this is a disease,” Friedrichs said. “If Jackie and I are open and honest, then hopefully others will feel better about being open too.”

Other community members and groups have also worked in recent years to offer support and help to those impacted by drug abuse in the community. Thanks to so many people working together within the county, additional resources have been able to be put towards addiction awareness. The county now has a Teen Intervene program that focuses on helping teenagers before substance abuse becomes a problem.

“They don’t just turn a blind eye,” Gibbons said. “There are people throughout the community willing to do something and willing to be a part of the solution.”

Additionally, the AODA is working to get Narcan into the community, a potentially life-saving drug that can reverse an opiate overdose.

“This is about saving a life,” Gibbons said. “You give someone a Narcan, you’re talking about reversing an overdose.”

For more information on Narcan training or to sign up, contact mljohnson@gchsd.org or crivera@gchsd.org.