1-13-17 group demands more money for opioid prevention

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A health care advocacy group wants Gov. Scott Walker and Republican lawmakers to devote more money into a program to screen high school students for drug abuse.  Walker has called a special legislative session to pass 11 bills to curb opioid abuse. One would allocate $200,000 more to the Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment program. The program screens students for substance abuse through conversations and refers them to treatment. It’s currently in place in six school districts.  Citizen Action of Wisconsin Executive Director Robert Kraig and Democratic state Sen. LaTonya Johnson told reporters Thursday that $200,000 isn’t enough. They say opioid abuse is so widespread Walker should expand the program to test every Wisconsin freshman. That would cost about $1.8 million.