Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes the acceptance of and appropriates a Wisconsin Department of Health Service donation of Narcan, fentanyl test strips and educational posters for overdose prevention to the Police Department’s Madison Area Addiction Recovery Initiative and Addiction Recovery Team with an estimated value of $49,500. The Wisconsin Department of Health Service has made these items available to law enforcement agencies as part of the state’s opioid settlement fund grant program. Madison General ordinance 4.29(4) requires that gifts over ten thousand dollars ($10,000) must be accepted and appropriated by the Common Council. There is no impact on the city levy.
Title
Accepting a Wisconsin Department of Health Service donation of Narcan, fentanyl test strips and educational posters for overdose prevention for the Police Department’s Madison Area Addiction Recovery Initiative (MAARI)
Body
PREAMBLE
Most overdoses in Dane County occur in the City of Madison and both have seen an overall decrease, which is attributed to the wide distribution and availability of Narcan. Narcan has allowed for citizens to save a life and as a result, we believe a call for a first responder is not made implying a decrease in overdoses. While overdoses are down, overdose deaths in Madison and Dane County have not decreased. Fentanyl, and more recently Xylazine, are contributing factors to overdoses. Fentanyl is cut into other drugs such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and even marijuana. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is cheap to produce and has highly addictive qualities, both attractive features to illegal drug producers.
The Madison Area Recovery Initiative (MARI) exists as a diversion and deflection program through the Madison Police Department and numerous partners, in particular Safe Communities. Following an overdose, a MPD officer and Peer Support Specialist from Safe Communities attempt contact with that person to offer help and resources. During that visit, the intended contact or collateral contact (family member, friend, etc.) are offered Fentanyl Test Strips (FTS) and Naloxone for their safety. The FTS allows for someone to test a small quantity of their substance to determine if it contains Fentanyl. If positive, they have the option of not using or choosing to use less quantity to decrease the risk of overdose. The Narcan can be immediately administered if someone overdoses.
WHEREAS the Police Department created in 2017 the Madison Area Addiction Recovery Initiative (MAARI) pre-arrest diversion program to direct individuals struggling with mental health and substance use disorder challenges away from the criminal justice system and instead connect them with treatment, peer support and recovery services; and,
WHEREAS, the program was expanded in 2020 to become more regional, develop an Addiction Resource Team for community outreach, conduct clinical assessments, provide peer support coaching for participants and naloxone distribution; and,
WHEREAS, officers have referred hundreds of participants to the program who would have otherwise been arrested; and,
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Department of Health Service has made Narcan, fentanyl test strips and educational posters available to law enforcement agencies as part of the state’s opioid settlement fund grant program and had donated these items to the Madison Police Department, to be in the MAARI and ART programs (estimated value of at least $45,900); and,
WHEREAS, Madison General ordinance 4.29(4) states that “Gifts from other entities up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) may be accepted by Department heads with the approval of the Mayor; gifts from other entities over ten thousand dollars ($10,000) shall be accepted by resolution of the Common Council. Any gifts or grants not otherwise accounted for in an agency’s budget must be appropriated by the Common Council. Gifts include in-kind contributions.”
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Madison Police Department is authorized to accept the donations described above from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for use by the MAARI and ART programs.