Drug and Alcohol Detox Guide For Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
Oconomowoc is a small but growing city in Waukesha County, just a few miles west of central Milwaukee. The city’s current population is 18,505, though its population is sometimes lumped together with the nearby town of Oconomowoc (8,825) and the village of Oconomowoc Lake (585), giving it a population as high as 27,915. However, this still makes it a relatively small part of Waukesha County, which boasts a population of 410,434.
Despite its small size, Oconomowoc is an affluent city, with a median household income of $99,104, which is 36.7% higher than the median household income in Wisconsin. The city also has a comparatively low poverty rate; roughly 5.5% of the population lives below the poverty line, compared to 10.7% of the population of Wisconsin. [1]
Despite the wealth and prosperity of Oconomowoc, the city has struggled with substance abuse and addiction for years. Fortunately, with clinics like Midwest Detox nearby, Oconomowoc 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 Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, and are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, you should consider seeking out professional help as soon as possible. It could mean the difference between life and death. That said, we understand that starting the recovery process is not always easy.
Continue reading to learn more about the current substance abuse crisis in Oconomowoc, and the resources available to help residents fight addiction.
The Ongoing Substance Abuse Crisis in Oconomowoc
Pinpointing the number of substance abuse cases in Oconomowoc can be challenging. The city only accounts for about 6.8% of the county population (if you include the town of Oconomowoc and the village of Oconomowoc Lake), but all of the city’s substance abuse data is collected at the county level. As a result, the substance abuse cases that actually occur in Oconomowoc are generally compiled with the cases that occur in larger cities in the area, such as Waukesha and New Berlin.
Despite this challenge, it’s still important to understand the nature of the substance abuse crisis in the region, and county-level data can be extremely useful in this respect. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Waukesha County has seen an increase in both alcohol emergency room visits and inpatient hospitalizations. Annual alcohol-attributable deaths have also increased by 33% over the past 8 years. [2] [3] You can see a full breakdown of these statistics in the table below:
| Alcohol Statistics in Waukesha County | |||
| Year | Emergency Room Visits | Inpatient Hospitalizations | Deaths |
| 2014 | 1085 | 1829 | 63 |
| 2015 | 1291 | 2063 | 55 |
| 2016 | 1649 | 2122 | 66 |
| 2017 | 1717 | 2119 | 71 |
| 2018 | 1814 | 2010 | 75 |
| 2019 | 1607 | 2053 | 64 |
| 2020 | 1436 | 2121 | 89 |
| 2021 | 1387 | 2041 | 102 |
| 2022 | N/A | N/A | 84 |
It would be easy to assume that the substance abuse crisis is out of control in Oconomowoc based on the data above. However, the high figures above can mostly be attributed to the large population of Waukesha County. At the same time, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that alcohol emergency room visits, inpatient hospitalizations, and deaths increased between 2014 and 2021, with these figures peaking during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The data for 2022 and 2023 is not finalized, but initial reports indicate that cases may have declined somewhat since the high numbers recorded in 2020 and 2021. Preliminary data shows that there were a total of 32 alcohol-related deaths between January and May of 2023. This could indicate that alcohol-attributable deaths are also declining from the high figures seen during the pandemic.
Opioid abuse is similarly high in Waukesha County, with the increase in deaths outpacing the number of annual hospitalizations. [4] [5] You can see the annual figures for opioid abuse in Waukesha County in the table below:
| Opioid Statistics in Waukesha County | |||
| Year | Emergency Room Visits | Inpatient Hospitalizations | Deaths |
| 2014 | 96 | 97 | 42 |
| 2015 | 135 | 122 | 36 |
| 2016 | 140 | 150 | 50 |
| 2017 | 173 | 146 | 68 |
| 2018 | 165 | 114 | 56 |
| 2019 | 133 | 83 | 50 |
| 2020 | 168 | 93 | 83 |
| 2021 | 151 | 101 | 99 |
| 2022 | 129 | 79 | N/A |
One of the most notable takeaways from these statistics is the high rate of opioid deaths in Waukesha County. Most counties in Wisconsin record much higher numbers of alcohol deaths than opioid deaths, partly because alcohol is far more accessible and the state has a long history of alcohol abuse. However, Waukesha County’s alcohol and opioid deaths are very similar from year to year, indicating that the opioid crisis is far worse in Waukesha County than in many other counties in the region.
Other drugs also contribute to and exacerbate the substance abuse crisis in Oconomowoc and Waukesha County. For example, multi-drug deaths involving opioids have been increasing in recent years. This is because the combination of opioids with alcohol or other addictive substances greatly increases the chance of a deadly overdose. Additionally, Waukesha County records an average of 13 annual cocaine deaths (far higher than the state average) and 4 annual crystal meth deaths. [6]
Once again, it’s extremely important to remember that Oconomowoc only accounts for a small portion of Waukesha County (about 6.8%). However, some estimates put the number of substance abuse cases originating in the city as high as 9.7%. This would mean that nearly 1 in 10 substance abuse cases recorded in Waukesha County occur in the city of Oconomowoc.
How Oconomowoc Compares to the Rest of Wisconsin
Waukesha County and, by extension, the city of Oconomowoc, are among the worst municipalities in the state for drug and alcohol abuse. When it comes to alcohol emergency room visits and inpatient hospitalizations, Waukesha County ranks as the 4th and 3rd worst county in the state, respectively. However, the outlook is far better when it comes to alcohol-attributable deaths: Waukesha County is ranked as the 48th worst county in the state for alcohol deaths (out of a total of 72 counties). In 2021, for example, Waukesha County recorded an average of 48 alcohol deaths per 100,000 residents, compared to a statewide average of 55. However, this is still high when comparing Oconomowoc and Waukesha County to the rest of the country, as Wisconsin has some of the highest rates of binge drinking of any state in the nation. [7]
Waukesha County is also one of the worst counties in the state for opioid overdoses and deaths. In 2021, the rate of opioid emergency room visits was lower in Waukesha County (37.6 per 100,000) than it was in Wisconsin (54.5 per 100,000), but the rate of opioid inpatient hospitalizations in Waukesha County was substantially higher than the state average (25.1 vs 19.5). When it comes to deaths caused by opioids, Waukesha County is only slightly worse than the rest of the state. In 2021, the county recorded an average of 24.7 deaths per 100,000 residents, compared to 24.6 in all of Wisconsin.
But it’s necessary to take a more granular approach to this data, particularly as it pertains to the city of Oconomowoc. 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 Oconomowoc, Wisconsin:
- Annual Overdoses: 341
- Alcohol-Related Deaths: 9
- Opioid-Related Deaths: 7
- Non-Opioid Drug-Related Deaths: 2
Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Efforts in Oconomowoc
Oconomowoc does not have very many programs to directly address the substance abuse crisis. Residents have 24/7 access to a prescription drug drop-off box located at the Oconomowoc Police Department. People can drop off expired or excess prescription drugs with absolutely no questions asked. However, there are no other city-level programs that actually help people on the road to recovery. Instead, Oconomowoc relies on county and state-level initiatives.
Waukesha County manages both free and paid services for people struggling with addiction. Some of these programs help diagnose substance use disorders, while others are specifically designed to treat addiction or refer residents to affiliated clinics.
As a complement to these local programs, Wisconsin runs the State Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (SCAODA), which manages dozens of programs and initiatives across the state. Oconomowoc 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 Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
Oconomowoc may be an affluent city and a nice place to raise a family, but it has a growing problem with substance abuse that local officials have been unable to stop. While county and state-level programs may have reduced the number of overdose deaths, they have not addressed the underlying issues leading to addiction. For this reason, many Oconomowoc residents feel helpless when looking for effective treatment.
Fortunately, there is help close by. Midwest Detox is a private detox clinic in Brookfield, just a 30-minute drive from Stevens Point. At Midwest Detox, we work day and night to ensure that you are comfortable as you cleanse your body of addictive substances. Our trained staff also helps you learn the skills you’ll need to continue the recovery process and achieve sobriety.
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.