FDL County will use compensation funds for new positions to address the opioid crisis

FOND DU LAC COUNTY (NBC 26) – Fond du Lac County is addressing the ongoing opioid crisis with $1.7 million from statewide settlements with pharmaceutical companies.

The district will create two new positions whose task is to help addicts and solve drug crimes.

According to the National Association of Attorneys General, settlements have been reached with several major pharmaceutical companies sued by states for involvement in the opioid crisis.

Fond du Lac County Executive Sam Kaufman said it’s not just a statewide problem, but also a problem for neighbors here in Fond du Lac County.

“The opioid problem in terms of addiction is increasing,” Kaufman said.

With the influx of settlement money, Kaufman said the county plans to add two jobs: a peer recovery specialist and an opioid investigator.

Kaufman said the peer recovery specialist will work with people receiving addiction treatment in the county.

“Now we have someone who can help you get through this, who can help you take every step to achieve your goals, to get away from that addiction and move on and be successful in life,” Kaufman said.

According to the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office, officers seized 3,214 grams of fentanyl in 2023 and counting. So far in 2024, the Sheriff’s Office has already seized 9,431 grams of the drug.

“It wasn’t an issue in our community and actually across the country for many years until three, four years ago when it really increased,” Fond du Lac County Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt said. “And they are destroyed resources.”

The Opioid Investigator will be a detective in the Sheriff’s Department and will focus exclusively on investigating opioid-related cases.

“In addition, there is an educational contribution that informs the public and informs students at schools about all dangers,” said Waldschmidt.

Kaufman said that with current settlement funds they could fund both positions for five years without using taxpayer money; However, Kaufman said the county may receive more settlement funds to fund the positions in the future.

The peer support specialist position was approved by the district board at its last meeting.

And the opioid investigator position was approved by a public safety committee on Tuesday and will go before the full board at its Dec. 17 meeting.

Both positions would begin in 2025.