The Sawyer County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council convened on March 16, 2025, to discuss critical public health initiatives and recent data on substance use and overdose trends in the community.

The meeting began with an announcement regarding upcoming vaping education sessions scheduled for local schools. The first session will take place on March 14 at the middle and high schools, with the high school session running from 9:00 to 9:45 AM and the middle school session from 10:15 to 11:00 AM. A follow-up session is planned for March 19 at Winter School from 8:30 to 9:30 AM.

Next, the council received an update from the overdose data committee, which revealed significant changes in overdose statistics based on new information from the emergency department. The data indicated that the highest increase in overdose calls was among individuals aged 18 to 24, prompting the council to focus its public health campaign on this demographic in the coming year.

Further analysis of the data highlighted that substance use was notably prevalent among females aged 25 to 34 and males aged 35 to 44, with females in the younger group being twice as likely to use methamphetamine. The council also noted a concerning trend of injuries from falls, all linked to alcohol consumption, predominantly among males.

The discussion also addressed suicidal ideation and substance use, which was found to be highest among juveniles, particularly females under 17, who were most likely to misuse over-the-counter medications. Additionally, females aged 55 to 64 and males aged 35 to 44 were identified as significant groups for continued suicide education efforts.

The council expressed concern over polysubstance use, with methamphetamine being frequently used alongside heroin and fentanyl. The data suggested that the illicit drug supply has been increasingly adulterated with fentanyl across various substances, including cocaine and marijuana. Notably, there were 25 reported cases of THC overdoses last year, attributed to the potency of THC liquids used in vaping.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to enhance education and prevention efforts in response to these alarming trends, particularly focusing on the youth and vulnerable populations within the community.