NEW CASTLE – The Pennsylvania departments of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) and Aging (PDA) announced the launch of the Shapiro Administration’s new initiative to help lower the number of fatal overdoses in older adults in Pennsylvania – a number that has increased over the past few years. The agencies are implementing an evidence-based substance use prevention and wellness program called the Wellness Initiative for Senior Education (WISE) across four counties with some of the highest rates of overdoses for Pennsylvanians 55 and older. Funding to implement the WISE initiative is provided from the “Big Four” opioid settlement, which was the result of a multistate investigation of opioid manufacturers and distributors spearheaded by Governor Josh Shapiro when he was Attorney General. It led to multiple settlement agreements worth billions of dollars to expand or enhance recovery support services for individuals in recovery from opioid use disorder and other substance use disorders (SUD), most of which goes directly to Pennsylvania counties to meet local needs.
