Drug and Alcohol Detox Guide For Janesville, Wisconsin
Janesville is one of the largest cities in south-central Wisconsin. Divided by tranquil rivers and set amidst beautiful nature trails, Janesville is a relaxed city and a great place to live for individuals and families with children. As an added bonus, Janesville is only an hour’s drive from Madison to the north and Milwaukee to the northeast. That said, Janesville is not all sunshine and rainbows. Sadly, there is a growing problem in Janesville and the rest of Rock County that many are afraid to address: addiction.
As of the latest data, Rock County is among the worst counties in Wisconsin for both opioid and alcohol abuse. Since Janesville makes up more than one-third of Rock County and is often the epicenter of substance abuse reports in the region, it ranks among the cities in Wisconsin most affected by the substance abuse epidemic. And while Janesville has a strong manufacturing economy, financial instability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic downturn has only exacerbated the addiction problems in the region.
And though it may be possible to identify certain larger causes for addiction, this doesn’t really fix the problem. Today, there are hundreds, if not thousands of families in Janesville and Rock County suffering as a direct result of substance abuse. There are some local and state programs to help educate people on addiction, but we know that people need more to achieve recovery. Fortunately, Janesville has access to high-quality detox facilities like Midwest Detox.
Detoxing is often the first major step in the recovery journey. However, if you’re looking for help for a friend or a loved one, you may have a lot of questions. An important part of helping someone with an addiction is understanding the circumstances that led them to abuse drugs or alcohol in the first place. A vital aspect of this understanding is learning about how it affects your community. Continue reading to learn more about the effects of drug and alcohol abuse in Janesville and Rock County, as well as the role that detox can play in helping Janesville residents recover for good.
The Ongoing Substance Abuse Crisis in Janesville
Janesville has a population of roughly 66,000 people, making it the largest city in Rock County (population 164,000). Since much of the data concerning substance abuse is collected and analyzed at the county level, it can be a little complicated to understand exactly how many people are living (and dying) as a result of addiction in Janesville. Nonetheless, the county-level data provides an accurate overview of substance abuse in Janesville and the surrounding suburbs.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the number of deaths caused by both opioids and alcohol has been on the rise over the last decade. In 2014, Rock County recorded 68 deaths caused by alcohol, compared to 86 alcohol-related deaths in 2021. While the latter figure is a substantial decline from the peaks reached during the height of the pandemic (111 deaths in 2020), it still represents a 26% increase in deaths over a 7-year period. And unfortunately, this figure cannot be attributed to population growth. Over the same period, Rock County only grew by about 2.5%.[1]
The data related to opioids is far more drastic. For years, opioids had a relatively small effect on Janesville and the rest of Rock County. Between 2014 and 2020, Rock County saw an average of 33 opioid-related deaths per year. In 2021, the annual number of deaths skyrocketed to 64. While part of this sudden spike can be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing research indicates that the opioid crisis is only getting worse in Janesville. [2]
Opioids (particularly synthetic opioids like fentanyl) and alcohol have the biggest impact on addiction in Janesville, but there are other substances that add to the problem as well. For example, Rock County records a surprisingly high number of deaths caused by cocaine and heroin, as well as deaths caused by drug cocktails. [3]
How Janesville Compares to the Rest of Wisconsin
Sadly, Janesville is one of the worst mid-sized cities in the state of Wisconsin when it comes to addiction. While larger cities like Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay record higher numbers of deaths caused by substance abuse, Janesville still has comparatively high addiction rates when accounting for its smaller population. This fact can be partially attributed to the influx of synthetic opioids on the streets of southern Wisconsin.
Rock County has very high rates of alcohol abuse, particularly when looking at the entire nation. Wisconsin is already the worst state in the country for binge drinking, with more than 1 in 4 Wisconsin adults binge drinking regularly. [4] In 2021, the entire state recorded an average of 55 alcohol-related deaths per 100,000 residents, compared to an alarming 68 deaths per 100,000 residents in Rock County. This makes Rock County the 16th worst county in the state for deaths caused by alcohol abuse, and the 6th worst county in the state for the total number of alcohol-related hospital visits. [5]
Rock County has seen similarly high figures related to opioid deaths. In 2021, Wisconsin recorded an average of 24.6 opioid-related deaths per 100,000 residents. The same year, Rock County recorded an average of 39.7 deaths per 100,000 residents. The disparity between the number of fatal opioid overdoses in Rock County and all of Wisconsin is expected to increase in the coming years.
Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Efforts in Janesville
As of 2023, Janesville does not offer any city-level programs or initiatives to counter the rising number of addiction cases in the region. Instead, the city relies on county and state-level programs for support. In Rock County, residents can access walk-in substance abuse screenings to diagnose substance use disorders and direct them to the best treatment option.
At the state level, Wisconsin manages most of its substance abuse efforts through the State Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (SCAODA). There are various programs and initiatives available under SCAODA to combat substance abuse, including counseling for younger residents and even drop-off boxes for anonymous drug disposal. Additionally, SCAODA works to make life-saving drugs like Naxolone widely available.
While these programs have helped save dozens of lives in Janesville alone, they are not enough to help all of the people currently struggling with addiction in Janesville and Rock County. Fortunately, Janesville residents can get professional help at nearby facilities like Midwest Detox. After detox, inpatient rehab clinics like Wellbrook Recovery can ensure that patients stay on the path to sobriety.
Drug and Alcohol Detox in Janesville, Wisconsin
Janesville is a great place to live and raise a family, but its association with addiction serves as a dark stain on an otherwise beautiful city. And while the addiction cases continue to rise in Janesville and Rock County, there is hope. As previously mentioned, detox is often the first step in the journey to successful addiction recovery. Fortunately, residents of Janesville have access to Midwest Detox in nearby Brookfield.
At Midwest Detox, we put all of our focus on making sure that you have the tools and resources you need to cleanse your body of addictive substances. We work tirelessly to provide therapeutic and medical assistance during a very difficult time, which can help fast-track your recovery and minimize the effects of withdrawal.
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.