Waukesha County Heroin Task Force works to break stigma around overdoses

WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A task force in Waukesha is making strides to reduce substance issues in its community. From 2021 to 2022 – Waukesha County reduced the number of heroin deaths by 19%, thanks to the Waukesha County Heroin Task Force.

Mary Simon is on a mission. The co-chair of the Waukesha County Heroin Task Force is working to break the cycle around substance abuse. 

"It's very personal to me," said Simon. "In the beginning, our work was really just trying to convince people that opioid use disorder and heroin and fentanyl were in our community. We're trying to get people to understand people with substance abuse disorders are still people.”

The task force is a different approach than most substance abuse programs.

“Substance use disorder is such a huge problem, and not one organization or not one approach is going to solve that problem," said Simon. 

The county's task force combines all community resources and works under one umbrella. Simon says each group addresses one aspect of substance abuse to give people long-term support no matter where they are in the recovery stage. Some of the main concerns Simon says the task force addresses are reducing stigma, supporting recovery, and providing interventions. 

“Really what it's all about is connecting resources - the existing resources - and bringing them together under one, with one focus," said Simon. 

For Simon, this isn't just any mission.

"Parents will say, 'we did everything right, why is this happening?' said Simon. "I can say, you know, it happened to me too and you’re not alone.”

Simon comes from a family with substance abuse issues.

"Both my parents were alcoholics," said Simon. "I don’t want kids growing up in families I grew up in.”

With every person supported in recovery, Simon says that's another life saved. 

“I can empathize. I can understand, I can be patient, and hopefully, I can share my story so others understand," said Simon.