Drug and Alcohol Detox Guide For Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin
Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin is a village full of natural beauty and is just a short drive from Racine (to the east) and Milwaukee (to the north). Compared to its neighbors, Mount Pleasant is sparsely populated, with a population of 27,597 spread out across a village that occupies nearly 34 square miles. Mount Pleasant is perhaps best known for its beautiful forests and public parks, including Smolenski Park.
However, Mount Pleasant has been plagued by a contentious relationship between its residents and the village’s governing board over the years. The village received nationwide attention for the controversial agreement made with Foxconn, in which it promised 1,000 acres of land to the company and pushed many residents to sell their homes. In spite of substantial government investment and borrowing for the project, the final campus has yet to come to fruition.
That said, Mount Pleasant remains one of the most affluent villages in all of Wisconsin. The median household income is $81,053, which is well above the state median of $67,080.[1] While the economy remains relatively strong in Mount Pleasant, the village has not been immune to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stress and economic anxiety exacerbated the existing substance abuse crisis, pushing more and more residents to abuse drugs and alcohol. Fortunately, with clinics like Midwest Detox nearby, Mount Pleasant residents can begin their recovery journey with the assistance of trained professionals. This way, they have a much better chance of getting sober and staying sober for good.
If you or a loved one live in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin and are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, we know how much effort and determination it takes to reach out for help. Nonetheless, it is extremely important to find professionals who can get you through the first days and weeks of your recovery. In the meantime, continue reading to learn more about the current substance abuse crisis in Mount Pleasant, and the resources available to help residents fight addiction.
The Ongoing Substance Abuse Crisis in Mount Pleasant
The village of Mount Pleasant is located in the eastern half of Racine County and accounts for roughly 14% of the county population. This matters because Mount Pleasant’s substance abuse cases are recorded at the county level, which can make it difficult to separate Mount Pleasant’s data from the data in other towns, villages, and cities throughout the county, like Racine and Union Grove. Still, it’s important to consider the cases that occur all across Racine County, as they provide a broader picture of the substance abuse crisis in the region.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Racine County saw some of the highest rates of alcohol-related emergency room visits and inpatient hospitalizations leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic. These figures have declined in the years since. Sadly, the same is not true for alcohol-attributable deaths. While the pandemic saw a spike in the county’s alcohol deaths, the numbers show no signs of going down in 2022 and 2023.[2][3] You can see a full breakdown of these statistics in the table below:
| Alcohol Statistics in Racine County | |||
| Year | Emergency Room Visits | Inpatient Hospitalizations | Deaths |
| 2014 | 1222 | 1245 | 54 |
| 2015 | 1364 | 1328 | 52 |
| 2016 | 1436 | 1252 | 51 |
| 2017 | 1332 | 1315 | 59 |
| 2018 | 1433 | 1248 | 45 |
| 2019 | 1478 | 1358 | 63 |
| 2020 | 1213 | 1211 | 83 |
| 2021 | 1113 | 1146 | 64 |
| 2022 | N/A | N/A | 79 |
As you can see from the table, alcohol-related emergency room visits declined by almost 9% between 2014 and 2021, while alcohol-related inpatient hospitalizations declined by roughly 8% over the same period. From 2014 to 2022, Racine County saw a staggering 46.2% increase in alcohol-attributable deaths, indicating that fewer people were seeking out care, resulting in more deaths each year. There have been 16 alcohol-attributable deaths as of March of 2023, which suggests that deaths will likely remain just as high in the post-pandemic years. However, more data is needed to reach any firm conclusions about the future of alcohol abuse in Racine County.
Opioid trends in Racine County have followed a similar pattern. Over the past decade, opioid-related emergency room visits and inpatient hospitalizations have generally declined, while opioid-attributable deaths have risen.[4][5] You can see the annual figures for opioid abuse in Racine County in the table below:
| Opioid Statistics in Racine County | |||
| Year | Emergency Room Visits | Inpatient Hospitalizations | Deaths |
| 2014 | 40 | 59 | 37 |
| 2015 | 60 | 48 | 30 |
| 2016 | 78 | 66 | 22 |
| 2017 | 103 | 53 | 44 |
| 2018 | 67 | 52 | 21 |
| 2019 | 106 | 56 | 26 |
| 2020 | 94 | 49 | 49 |
| 2021 | 83 | 46 | 54 |
| 2022 | 75 | 39 | N/A |
The data related to opioid abuse in Racine County is less consistent, but there is still a pattern of fewer people seeking out treatment in recent years. Perhaps as a direct result of reduced hospitalizations, opioid deaths spiked in 2017 and during the height of the pandemic (2020 and 2021). While the data from 2022 and 2023 is not yet available, preliminary figures indicate that deaths from prescription opioids, fentanyl, and heroin have continued to go up in the county.
While prescription opioids and alcohol are the two most commonly abused substances in Racine County, other drugs also contribute to dozens of deaths every year. For example, Racine County records an average of 7.3 heroin deaths per 100,000 residents every year. Similarly, the county records an annual average of 7.7 cocaine deaths per 100,000 residents, which is far higher than most other counties in Wisconsin.[6]
Now that you have a better idea of what substance abuse looks like in all of Racine County, it’s time to look more closely at the village of Mount Pleasant. As previously mentioned, the village accounts for about 14% of the county population. Based on data from news outlets and local coroner’s reports, it is estimated that Mount Pleasant contributes more than 20% of the county’s substance abuse hospitalizations and deaths. This shows that, despite the prosperity of Mount Pleasant, it is worse off in the battle against substance abuse than most other municipalities in the county.
How Mount Pleasant Compares to the Rest of Wisconsin
Mount Pleasant and Racine County are among the worst locations for alcohol abuse in all of Wisconsin. This is surprising considering that Wisconsin is already one of the worst states in the country for binge drinking.[7] According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Racine County is the 5th worst county in the state for both alcohol-related emergency room visits and alcohol-related inpatient hospitalizations. It also ranks 19th out of 72 counties in Wisconsin for the number of alcohol deaths recorded each year. The state of Wisconsin records an average of 55 alcohol-attributable deaths per 100,000 residents, compared to 60.9 in Racine County.
The county also sees higher rates of opioid deaths than most other counties in Wisconsin. The statewide annual average is 24.6 opioid deaths per 100,000 residents, compared to 27.5 in Racine County. Based on the current trends in the county, this disparity is expected to widen in the coming years. Racine County also has some of the highest rates of heroin abuse in the state.
While all of this data helps provide an overview of Racine County and its relationship with substance abuse, it’s important to look at the specific numbers coming out of Mount Pleasant. To get a more accurate picture of substance abuse at the local level, let’s look at some of the most recent findings related to overdoses and deaths in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin:
- Annual Overdoses: 107
- Alcohol-Related Deaths: 15
- Opioid-Related Deaths: 13
- Non-Opioid Drug-Related Deaths: 2
Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Efforts in Mount Pleasant
Since Mount Pleasant is a village (as opposed to a town or a city), it does not have a traditional governmental body like other municipalities in the region. It is governed by a board president and six board members, who vote on decisions for the betterment of the community. Unfortunately, this limits the number of programs and initiatives to help prevent substance abuse and promote recovery at the local level. As a result, there are not currently any programs related to substance abuse in Mount Pleasant. Instead, the village relies on county and state-level initiatives.
Fortunately, Racine County offers various services to help those struggling with substance abuse, including outpatient evaluations and counseling. 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. Mount Pleasant residents also seek out help from detox clinics like Midwest Detox, as well as quality inpatient rehab clinics like Wellbrook Recovery.
Drug and Alcohol Detox in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin
Mount Pleasant lives up to its name, with miles of beautiful countryside and a thriving economy. Sadly, the happy side of life in Mount Pleasant is undermined by the growing number of alcohol and drug abuse cases. And even if official case numbers begin to drop in the near future, it still does not guarantee that substance abuse will not be a problem in the village. In fact, many residents choose to suffer in silence, foregoing the treatment they so desperately need.
But there is hope nearby. Midwest Detox is a quality alcohol and drug detox clinic located in Brookfield (about a 40-minute drive from Mount Pleasant). At Midwest Detox, we go above and beyond to make each patient comfortable as they ween off of drugs or alcohol. Our services are private and discreet, and our facilities are modern and luxurious. More importantly, we have the expertise to manage your withdrawal symptoms and the skills to prepare you for the road ahead.
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.