Drug and Alcohol Detox Guide For Appleton, Wisconsin
Appleton is just minutes from beautiful Lake Winnebago, and it offers residents and visitors a perfect blend of nature and urban living. Plus, if you’re a sports fan, Appleton is just a 30-minute drive from Green Bay. But Appleton is not just a great place to live and raise a family. The economy in Appleton is also very strong, with thousands of jobs in manufacturing and healthcare, and household and per capita incomes well above the state and national averages.
In spite of the outward beauty of this bustling community, Appleton continues to fight a silent battle against addiction. With a population of nearly 75,000 people, Appleton is not immune to the growing influx of street drugs and prescription drug abuse, to say nothing of the binge drinking that is so common throughout most of Wisconsin. These problems were only made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, which contributed to widespread economic anxiety in Appleton and the surrounding counties, and pushed many residents toward devastating substance abuse.
While the causes of substance abuse in Appleton are complex and not always easy to define, the results are tragically clear. Fortunately, substance abuse doesn’t need to turn you or someone you love into another depressing statistic. There are various state and local resources to help fight substance abuse in Appleton. Additionally, residents of Appleton, Wisconsin have easy access to high-quality detox facilities like Midwest Detox.
And while detoxing is the first step toward recovery, it’s also important to understand the consequences of substance abuse on you, your family, and your community. In Appleton, dozens of people die as a direct result of addiction every single year. And though it may not be a pleasant thought, it’s vitally important to consider what substance abuse and addiction are doing to the families around you. Continue reading to learn more about the effects of drug and alcohol abuse in Appleton, as well as the role that detox can play in helping Appleton residents recover for good.
The Ongoing Substance Abuse Crisis in Appleton
Though Appleton is the 6th largest city in the state by population and is part of the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Wisconsin (Fox Cities), it is difficult to track down all of its substance abuse data. This is primarily because Appleton is actually situated at the crossroads of three different counties: Outagamie, Calumet, and Winnebago. That said, the majority of Appleton resides within the county limits of Outagamie County, where the city also serves as the county seat. Nonetheless, all three counties calculate their respective data differently, which can make it more complicated to interpret substance abuse data within the city limits.
Since the majority of Appleton rests in Outagamie County, it’s most helpful to see how substance abuse has affected the area at the county level. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Outagamie County is among the least affected counties in the state when it comes to alcohol and opioid-related deaths. In 2021, the county recorded 56 alcohol-related deaths and 26 opioid-related deaths. Both of these figures have been on the rise since 2014, with substantial spikes during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. [1] [2]
However, these statistics don’t show the whole picture. Outagamie County has relatively high instances of alcohol hospitalizations. So, while efforts to reduce deaths have been very successful in the county, they also belie the underlying prevalence of alcohol abuse. Additionally, while Appleton makes up a substantial portion of Outagamie County (roughly 25% of the population), it does not account for all of the hospitalizations and deaths.
Nor do the Outagamie County statistics account for all hospitalizations and deaths in Appleton. To understand the complexities of the issue, you must also consider the figures coming out of Calumet County and Winnebago County. While Calumet County records relatively few deaths and hospitalizations from alcohol or opioids, Winnebago County records high figures in all of the above. In 2021, Winnebago County saw 84 alcohol-related deaths, 31 opioid-related deaths, as well as higher instances of stimulant abuse, particularly abuse of cocaine and meth. [3]
How Appleton Compares to the Rest of Wisconsin
Generally, Appleton fares better than most other large cities in the state when it comes to opioid abuse. More specifically, there has been a sharp decline in heroin addiction, though this has partially been the result of an influx of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is far more powerful than heroin. However, it also depends on the location in Appleton. The city is relatively spread out, with the largest segment located to the north in Outagamie County. Only small sections of Appleton reside in Winnebago County (to the southwest) and Calumet County (to the southeast).
Nonetheless, the pervasiveness of opioids is far more alarming in the areas in Winnebago County. Additionally, both Outagamie County and Winnebago County are among the worst in the state for alcohol addiction. This is particularly frightening when you consider that Wisconsin is the worst state in the nation for alcohol abuse, with more than 1 in 4 Wisconsin adults binge drinking regularly. [4]
As of 2021, Outagamie County recorded a total of 1,651 hospital visits as a direct result of alcohol abuse, making it the 10th worst county in the state for this statistic. Similarly, Winnebago County recorded 1,632 hospital visits over the same time period, making it the 9th worst state for this statistic. This indicates that alcohol is among the primary concerns in Appleton and the rest of the population in the surrounding counties. [5]
Most of Appleton is not as affected by the growing opioid crisis, but it is still a major problem in the areas of Appleton closer to the border with Winnebago County. While the state of Wisconsin recorded an average of 24.6 opioid-related deaths out of 100,000 residents in 2021, Winnebago County recorded an average of 31 opioid-related deaths per 100,000 residents over the same time period.
Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Efforts in Appleton
Appleton does not currently have any major programs or initiatives to combat substance abuse. Instead, the city primarily relies on programs offered at the state and county levels. In Outagamie County, the Outagamie County Crisis Unit works to reduce overdose deaths and makes life-saving resources more accessible to people throughout the county, including residents of Appleton. The Calumet County Underage Drinking Diversion Program, the Community Support Program, and the Comprehensive Community Service Program all work to educate young people on the dangers of substance abuse. Lastly, Winnebago County offers a wide variety of programs to address substance abuse, including the LifePoint syringe disposal program, the Breakwater Coalition, and the Overdose Fatality Review Team.
Most of the state-level programs are managed under the authority of the State Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (SCAODA). Some of these programs include counseling for at-risk teenagers and drug disposal drop-off areas. The SCAODA also helps provide Naxolone to save lives in the event of an opioid overdose.
Since there are virtually no resources to fight substance abuse at the city level in Appleton, many Appleton residents feel that they don’t have access to any help at all. Fortunately, this is not the case. In addition to county and state-level programs, Appleton residents can get discrete and professional help at nearby facilities like Midwest Detox. After detox, Appleton residents can continue their recovery at an inpatient rehab like Wellbrook Recovery.
Drug and Alcohol Detox in Appleton, Wisconsin
Appleton is a great place to live, but it’s not the easiest city in Wisconsin in which to overcome addiction. Every day, more and more Appleton residents are struggling with substance abuse and are unaware of the options at their disposal. But the suffering doesn’t need to continue. Taking the first step often means speaking to a healthcare professional and checking into an inpatient detox center like Midwest Detox.
At Midwest Detox, our trained staff is ready to provide you with the medical and therapeutic assistance you need to get through those first difficult days or weeks of recovery. Once you’re ready, you can begin to develop the skills you need to get sober through counseling and ongoing therapy. With time, you can beat your addiction and put substance abuse in the rearview mirror.
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.