WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, SportsSymposium aimed at improving treatment for addiction & mental illness

Symposium aimed at improving treatment for addiction & mental illness

by Colby Robertson

MARATHON COUNTY (WAOW) -- Addiction and mental illness, when left untreated, takes it's toll on the criminal justice system. Now some area law enforcement officials say it's time to focus on prevention.

Area police say 70% of all criminal activity they see is alcohol or drug related. That's why local experts are getting together to bring attention to mental illness and addiction in our community. The symposium, "Making Parity Real" is a statewide series aimed at state lawmakers. The hope to present them with ways to improve the treatment for mental health and addiction in Wisconsin.

Crimes in our community happen all the time. Drunk Driving, pharmacy robberies and home burglaries are all often fueled by addiction.

Wausau Police Chief Jeff Hardel says, "Addiction fuels bad decisions by people all the time and sometimes that crosses over into criminal matters where the addiction takes over and they're making such poor decisions that they're breaking into cars, burglarizing houses."

Mental Illness and addiction, whether it be drug or alcohol, is a problem in communities statewide. Friday a panel of experts will talk about the root of the problem; affordable treatment and prevention.

North Central Health Care CEO Gary Bezucha says, "The issue is that a lot of health plans while they provide very adequate coverage for medical illnesses like Diabetes and heart disease they really don't provide the same amount of coverage for mental health care."

Bezucha says lack of coverage directly impacts areas throughout the community.

Bezucha says, "We certainly do a lot with the justice system and we know that about 24% in prisons and 21% people in jails have recently had a mental illness problem so it certainly impacts that."

Experts say ensuring access to Mental Health and Addiction Benefits is the first step in "Making Parity Real."

Chief Hardel says, "In our community our policing philosophy is finding the root of the cause and preventing it from happening again. It's not that they have a criminal mind but the addiction is fueling their decisions and behaviors and therefore the root of that cause would be addiction and if we can treat the addiction you're going to then also prevent criminal behavior."

Joining Chief Hardel on the panel is:

• Ron Alexander, Northcentral Technical College adjunct instructor in human services and a longtime alcohol and drug treatment counselor.
• Edward Krall, MD, psychiatrist, Marshfield Clinic Behavioral Health Department.
• Sheila Weix, RN, MSN, CARN, LNC, manager of alcohol and drug recovery services, Saint Joseph's Hospital.
• Rep. Donna Seidel (D-Wausau), Rep. Sandy Pasch (D-Whitefish Bay) and David Riemer, director of the Community Advocates Public Policy Institute, Milwaukee, will host the event.

There will also be breakout sessions and that's why the public is encouraged to attend and share their views on how to improve mental health and addiction treatment services.

It's Friday from 10 a.m. -2 p.m. at Northcentral Technical College. Attendance is free, but registration is required by Wednesday. For more information visit www.MakingParityReal.org

Online Reporter: Colby Robertson