Dr Randy Brown

Randall Brown, MD, PhD, FASAM, will manage a new addiction consultation service to help doctors treat patients who may have an addiction. The program is supported by a $500,000 annual grant from DHS.

The Department of Health Services (DHS) has awarded a $500,000 annual grant to the University of Wisconsin System to provide doctors real-time guidance on how to treat patients who may have an addiction.

These funds will be used to support the University of Wisconsin Addictions Consultation Service, which will provide a daily on-call service staffed by experts in addiction medicine, addiction psychology, and alcohol and other drug abuse counseling.

The program will be managed by University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (DFMCH) Associate Professor Randall Brown, MD, PhD, FASAM. Dr. Brown is a nationally recognized leader in addiction clinical care, provider training, community outreach, and research; and a distinguished fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

“This effort will enhance care to patients with addictions in all regions of the state – north to south, east to west, rural, suburban, and urban – through the promotion of effective methods to treat addictions,” said DHS Director of Opioid Initiatives Paul Krupski. “Supporting our primary care workforce with the latest guidance for treating patients with complex needs will lead to better outcomes. This program is part of our ongoing efforts to help everyone live their best life.”

The addiction consultation line is part of the Heroin, Opioid, Prevention, and Education (HOPE) legislative package.

In 2016, 827 people in Wisconsin died of opioid-related drug overdoses, including heroin and prescription painkillers, up from 111 people in 2000.

Adapted from a DHS news release

Published: April 2018