Drug and Alcohol Detox Guide For Mequon, Wisconsin
Mequon, Wisconsin is a beautiful suburb of Milwaukee, situated by picturesque beaches and hills along the shores of Lake Michigan. Just a 20-minute drive north of Milwaukee, Mequon combines the peace and quiet of a large suburb with the convenience and excitement of a large city. Mequon is a truly wonderful city to work and raise a family, with average incomes that outpace most other mid-sized cities throughout Wisconsin. And with a poverty rate resting around 2%, Mequon is among the safest and most economically comfortable places to live in the entire state.
But while Mequon may look like a paradise at first glance, there are various issues that are lying just below the surface. Among the most dire problems facing the residents of Mequon is addiction. For years, the prevalence of prescription opioids and illicit drugs has steadily increased, making it easier for people of all ages and demographics to fall into a spiral of addiction. At the same time, alcohol abuse continues to be a major issue in Mequon and the rest of Wisconsin. Many of these issues were only exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic slump in the region.
Thankfully, the situation is far from hopeless. It is true that many residents of Mequon struggle with addiction, but if you count yourself among them, you must remember that you’re not alone. In fact, there are plenty of ways to fight your addiction and get back on the road to recovery. If you or a loved one is currently in need of help, consider reaching out to the experts at Midwest Detox in nearby Brookfield.
In the meantime, it’s important to understand exactly how addiction affects your community. Continue reading to learn more about substance abuse in Mequon, Wisconsin, and the resources available to help you on your journey to a sober, healthy life.
The Ongoing Substance Abuse Crisis in Mequon
Mequon is a relatively small city, with just over 25,000 full-time residents. Still, it is the largest city by population in Ozaukee County, and the third-largest city in Wisconsin by total land area. Ozaukee County boasts a population of a little over 92,000, and most of the statistics related to substance abuse are collected at the county level. This can make it difficult, though not impossible, to determine exactly how drugs and alcohol are currently affecting residents of Mequon. Nonetheless, it’s important to examine the data that is available and evaluate the current state of the local addiction crisis at the city and county levels.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Ozaukee County recorded 38 deaths caused by alcohol abuse in 2022. This represented a slight decrease from the deaths recorded during the height of the pandemic, which were 39 and 40 in 2020 and 2021, respectively. However, it still shows a steady increase in the number of alcohol-related deaths since 2014, when the Wisconsin Department of Health Services recorded just 21 deaths. However, the increase is somewhat expected, as the population of Ozaukee County has been increasing substantially over the past two decades. That said, the rate of alcohol-related instances is still outpacing the growth in population by a relatively wide margin. [1]
As bad as the alcohol statistics sound, the outlook is even worse when it comes to opioids. Between 2014 and 2021, the number of annual opioid deaths tripled from 6 to 18. Though final statistics for 2022 and 2023 are not yet available, preliminary data indicates that the number of deaths has increased even further. [2]
Though most of the addiction-related deaths in Mequon and the rest of Ozaukee County involve opioids, alcohol, or a combination of the two, it’s important not to ignore the prevalence of other dangerous substances. The number of multi-drug deaths is trending upward in the region, with cocaine contributing to the highest number of deaths. It’s estimated that an average of just over 3 people die every year in Ozaukee County as a direct result of cocaine abuse. [3]
It’s important to remember that the statistics for all of Ozaukee County are not an exact reflection of the statistics in the city of Mequon. In fact, Mequon accounts for roughly 27% of the county’s population, but it accounts for more than 40% of the county’s substance abuse deaths. This shows that, while Mequon does not account for all of the aforementioned statistics, it is one of the worst cities in Ozaukee County for substance abuse.
How Mequon Compares to the Rest of Wisconsin
You may look at some of the aforementioned statistics and assume that Mequon is among the worst places for substance abuse in the state of Wisconsin, but it actually doesn’t even come close. In fact, nearby cities like Milwaukee and Madison are far worse off, and the state as a whole generally records much higher death and hospitalization rates. It’s also important to remember that Wisconsin is among the worst states in the nation for alcohol abuse, with about 25% of the adult population engaging in binge drinking on a regular basis. [4]
In 2021, Wisconsin recorded an average alcohol death rate of 55 per 100,000 residents, compared to 45 in Ozaukee County. This makes Ozaukee County the 53rd worst county (out of 72) for this particular statistic. But deaths are not the only factor to consider when evaluating the state of substance abuse in Mequon. Hospitalizations related to alcohol abuse also provide very useful insights, and the numbers show an even worse picture of the situation in Ozaukee County. In 2021, the county recorded 299 emergency room visits and 432 inpatient visits, making it the 29th and 21st worst county in the state for these statistics. [5]
However, Mequon and Ozaukee County fare even worse when looking at opioid-related data. The state of Wisconsin saw an average of 24.6 opioid deaths per 100,000 residents in 2021, compared to 20.4 in Ozaukee County. The number of hospitalizations related to opioid overdoses is a bit harder to interpret. For emergency room visits, Wisconsin recorded an average of 53.7 per 100,000 residents in 2021, compared to just 19 in Ozaukee County. The same year, Wisconsin recorded an average of 19.2 inpatient visits related to opioid overdose per 100,000 residents, compared to 24.5 in Ozaukee County. While the difference between hospitalizations and deaths indicates that Ozaukee County does a good job of guiding patients toward medical intervention and treatment that can prevent deaths, it also shows that there is a growing addiction epidemic in the region. [6]
While all of the data laid out here can give a glimpse into the ongoing addiction crisis in Ozaukee County and the rest of Wisconsin, it may feel a little separated from the city of Mequon itself. This is why it’s so important to look at city-specific data and get a clearer idea of how addiction is really impacting local residents and their families. So, here are some of the most recent findings related to overdoses and deaths in Mequon, Wisconsin:
- Annual Overdoses: 96
- Alcohol-Related Deaths: 18
- Opioid-Related Deaths: 8
- Non-Opioid Drug-Related Deaths: 2
Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Efforts in Mequon
The city of Mequon does not have any active programs or resources to help people struggling with addiction. Instead, it primarily relies on initiatives managed at the county and state levels. Ozaukee County dedicates an entire section of its website to helping locals who are fighting addiction. This includes resources to educate people on the dangers of addiction, contact information for treatment centers and local support groups, as well as news and updates related to the opioid epidemic.
As a complement to these county programs, Wisconsin runs the State Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (SCAODA), which manages dozens of programs and initiatives across the state. Additionally, many Mequon residents seek out help from quality inpatient rehab clinics like Wellbrook Recovery, as well as nearby detox clinics like Midwest Detox.
Drug and Alcohol Detox in Mequon, Wisconsin
While Mequon is an absolutely beautiful coastal city and a wonderful place to live, it has a growing addiction problem that must be addressed. Every year, dozens of individuals succumb to drug or alcohol addiction in the city, but there is a path forward. Detox is the first step toward a full recovery, and residents of Mequon can begin that journey with the help of Midwest Detox.
At Midwest Detox, we do everything in our power to ensure that you are comfortable as you cleanse yourself of toxic substances. Additionally, we provide the care and resources you need to start your recovery on the right foot.
When it comes to addiction, there is no time like the present. So, if you or someone you love is in need of drug or alcohol detox, reach out to Midwest Detox today and begin your journey to recovery.