"Stairway to heroin:" Parents educated on drug abuse during forum in Menomonee Falls

MENOMONEE FALLS -- Heroin has an overwhelming impact on the lives it touches, and heroin and prescription painkiller abuse is on the rise across the state of Wisconsin. When it comes to protecting young people, there's an even more powerful influence -- parents. On Tuesday evening, March 1st, there was an effort to educate parents at Menomonee Falls High School.

The program was called "Stairway to Heroin."

Parents, families and doctors shared personal stories, and they were joined by Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel, who is working to fight the heroin epidemic with the DOJ's "Dose of Reality" campaign.

Officials said children who learn about the risks of drugs and alcohol from their parents are 50% less likely to use them.

"I've met hundreds of parents who have buried their children to opiate overdoses and I've yet to meet one parent who thought their child was the bad kid. In fact, many of these parents have been very effective in proving to me that their kids were definitely the good kids," Schimel said.

Also on Tuesday, Senator Tammy Baldwin announced a new plan to increase funding to fight opioid and heroin abuse.

Baldwin said this in a statement: