Drug and Alcohol Detox Guide For Racine, Wisconsin
With beautiful beaches and direct access to Lake Michigan, there are few things not to love about Racine, Wisconsin. Plus, Racine combines the comfort of a mid-sized city with the convenience of a much larger metropolis, as it’s just a 40-minute drive from nearby Milwaukee. But if you live in Racine, you already know that there’s a lot more to the city (and county) than a great location. Sadly, Racine has not been immune to the growing substance abuse crisis taking hold in Wisconsin and the rest of the country.
Unlike nearby Kenosha, which has seen a steady influx of new residents, the population of Racine has been in decline since the early 1990s. Today, Racine is home to about 77,000 people and serves as the county seat of Racine County. The slow decline in population has only exacerbated economic woes in the area, with per capita income in Racine falling well below the state and national averages, and the number of people living below the poverty line climbing to more than 12%. Many of these issues were only exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic downturn.
Regardless of the underlying causes, economic anxiety has led to a sharp increase in both drug and alcohol abuse in the city of Racine and the rest of Racine County. Fortunately, the situation is far from hopeless. Wisconsin and Racine County offer various resources to help people struggling with addiction. Additionally, residents of Racine have easy access to high-quality detox facilities like Midwest Detox.
Even though getting help for yourself or a loved one should be your number-one priority, you should also think about the way substance abuse is affecting your local community. Racine is a unique city with lots to offer individuals and families alike, but it has fallen into hard times that closely resemble those experienced in cities throughout Wisconsin. Continue reading to learn more about the effects of drug and alcohol abuse in Racine, as well as the role that detox can play in helping Racine residents recover for good.
The Ongoing Substance Abuse Crisis in Racine
The city of Racine accounts for approximately 19.4% of Racine County’s 196,000+ population. Though Racine is the largest city in the county, it still relegates much of its data collection to county authorities. As a result, it’s not always easy or straightforward to quantify the extent to which substance abuse is impacting the city of Racine. However, there is still useful information that can be gleaned from county and state-level databases.
With a population of just over 77,000 people, the city of Racine makes up nearly 40% of the population of the entire county. At the county level, Racine sees a relatively high number of opioid and alcohol-related deaths. The county also sees unusually high cases of deaths caused by cocaine, meth, or a combination of addictive substances.
In 2021, Racine County recorded 54 opioid-related deaths, an increase of nearly 46% from the 37 deaths recorded in 2014. The rate of alcohol-related deaths has also steadily increased over the same period. In 2014, Racine County recorded 74 alcohol-related deaths, compared to 101 deaths in 2021. Of the deaths recorded in 2021, it is estimated that the city of Racine accounted for 27 of the opioid-related deaths and 61 of the alcohol-related deaths, making it the largest contributor to overdose and substance abuse deaths in the county. [1] [2]
It’s also important to consider the statistics related to drugs other than opioids and alcohol. The proliferation of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids has driven the addiction crisis, which has led to a decrease in the use of heroin, as well as decreased usage of stimulants like cocaine and meth. Nonetheless, drugs like cocaine and meth still cause dozens of overdoses and deaths in Racine County every year. [3]
How Racine Compares to the Rest of Wisconsin
Whether you’ve lived in Wisconsin for years or you’re just moving to the state for the first time, you might be aware of its reputation for “overindulging” in alcohol. In fact, Wisconsin is the #1 state for alcohol consumption, with more than 1 in 4 Wisconsin adults binge drinking regularly. [4] While Racine may not have as many issues with alcohol abuse as some of its close neighbors (particularly Milwaukee County), the statistics don’t lie, and Racine County records more than a hundred alcohol-related deaths every year.
However, the hospitalization data for both acute and chronic alcohol abuse is the most telling. In 2021, Racine County recorded 1,113 alcohol emergency room visits and 1,146 chronic alcohol inpatient visits, making it the 5th worst county in the state for all alcohol hospitalizations. [5] This can make it difficult to understand exactly how alcohol affects the city of Racine and other towns and cities throughout the county.
At the state level, Wisconsin recorded 55 alcohol-related deaths for every 100,000 residents. Alternatively, Racine County recorded 51.6 per 100,000 residents. This ranked it 36th out of the 72 counties in Wisconsin. And, as previously mentioned, Racine County ranks among the worst counties in the state for total alcohol-related hospital visits.
The situation surrounding opioid abuse in Racine County is even worse. While the state of Wisconsin recorded an average of 24.6 opioid-related deaths per 100,000 residents in 2021, Racine County recorded an average of 27.5. And while Racine has high instances of synthetic opioid abuse (namely fentanyl), street drugs like heroin and meth are also commonplace. Lastly, Racine is also among the 5 worst counties in the state for cocaine abuse, even though the drug does not cause nearly as many deaths or hospitalizations to the county as opioids or alcohol.
Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Efforts in Racine
Racine County takes drug and alcohol abuse very seriously and has moved to enact strong community programs to combat substance abuse and provide resources for those fighting addiction. Currently, Racine County offers various free services as part of the Behavioral Health Services of Racine County. This initiative primarily gives people access to free or low-cost counseling from trained substance abuse counselors. However, there is a high demand to use these services, and not everyone will qualify for low or no-cost visits.
Unfortunately, while the city of Racine does have a section of its website dedicated to mental health and substance abuse, it does not have any active programs to help combat the ongoing crisis. Instead, it provides some statistics related to addiction and mental health in Racine, Racine County, and the rest of Wisconsin.
At the state level, nearly all programs and initiatives designed to fight substance abuse in Wisconsin are managed through the State Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (SCAODA). This council helps provide funding for localized efforts, including drug task forces, rehab locators, drug disposal programs, counseling, and much more. Additionally, the SCAODA helps distribute life-saving drugs like Naxolone and educates young people on the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
Though there are plenty of resources available in Racine County and the rest of Wisconsin to fight substance abuse, they are almost never enough when someone is struggling with addiction day in and day out. The first step is getting clean, and this should only be done under the supervision of trained professionals at a high-quality, discrete facility like Midwest Detox. Once an individual is ready to leave detox and continue their recovery at inpatient rehab, they can turn to a quality provider like Wellbrook Recovery.
Drug and Alcohol Detox in Racine, Wisconsin
Racine is a beautiful community, but it is severely lacking in the tools and resources to combat the growing addiction epidemic. Each and every day, more and more residents of Racine are succumbing to substance abuse, but it doesn’t need to continue. There are ways to combat the crisis with proven methods, detox, counseling, and more. Fortunately, you can access all of these services at Midwest Detox.
At Midwest Detox, we offer round-the-clock care and attention to ensure that you never feel alone while your body cleanses itself of impure substances. We have trained professionals on-site to help manage withdrawal symptoms, keep you comfortable, and encourage you to continue your recovery. Perhaps most importantly, we offer various therapy and counseling sessions that can help you build the skills you need to stay sober for the long term.
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.