Drug and Alcohol Detox Guide For Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Sheboygan is a beautiful city located along the shores of Lake Michigan. Divided by the famous Sheboygan River, the city is renowned for its beauty, as well as the plethora of walking trails and parks within its borders. However, the city has been hard hit by a variety of unfortunate circumstances, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic downturn. As a result, the average household income in the city is well below the state average, and the poverty rate rests at around 10%. Many of these factors have only exacerbated the trend of substance abuse that has been growing in Sheboygan for years.
Part of the issue with recovering from substance abuse in Sheboygan is the lack of public resources for assistance. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t get help if you or a loved one are struggling. With clinics like Midwest Detox nearby, you can begin your recovery journey with the assistance of trained professionals. This way, you have a much better chance of getting sober and staying sober for good.
In the meantime, it’s important to understand exactly how addiction affects your community. Continue reading to learn more about substance abuse in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and the resources available to help you on your journey to a sober life.
The Ongoing Substance Abuse Crisis in Sheboygan
As of the latest data, Sheboygan boasts a population of just under 50,000 people, making it the largest city in Sheboygan County. However, the county itself has a population of over 117,000. While this may not seem important at first glance, it is extremely relevant in the context of substance abuse. Most substance abuse statistics are collected at the county level, and since Sheboygan accounts for less than half of the county population, it can be difficult to determine exactly how many of the county’s substance abuse cases can be attributed to the city. Nonetheless, it is vitally important to evaluate all of the available data to understand how addiction affects both the city and county of Sheboygan.
From 2019 to 2022, Sheboygan County saw an annual average of 54 deaths related to alcohol. Many of these deaths were attributed to the stress and economic uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, as previous years saw substantially lower figures. Despite the temporary setback of the pandemic, all signs point to an increasing number of alcohol-attributable deaths in the county. [1] The state surrounding opioid deaths in Sheboygan County is even worse. The county recorded 23 opioid deaths in 2021, a figure that has been on the rise since 2014. [2]
Like most counties in Wisconsin, Sheboygan County sees most of its overdose deaths caused by alcohol or opioids. However, these are not the only substances abused in the county. While cocaine and heroin are not major contributors to the substance abuse crisis in the area, crystal metho continues to be a major problem. Multi-drug deaths are also on the rise, with roughly 25% of the drug deaths in Sheboygan County involving more than one addictive substance. [3]
As previously mentioned, the city of Sheboygan and Sheboygan County are two different areas. All of the deaths in Sheboygan County cannot be attributed to the city of Sheboygan, but many of them can. On average, it is estimated that 70% of substance abuse deaths in Sheboygan County originated in the city of Sheboygan.
How Sheboygan Compares to the Rest of Wisconsin
Much of Sheboygan County is rural and sparsely populated, with the exception of Sheboygan proper. As a result, one would assume that the number of hospitalizations due to substance abuse would be relatively low in the county. Strangely, this is not the case. In fact, Sheboygan sees a pretty high number of hospitalizations and deaths when comparing it to the rest of Wisconsin.
Wisconsin is already well-known for its troubling alcohol abuse statistics. The state has a growing problem concerning alcohol, with roughly 1 out of every 4 adults in Wisconsin engaging in binge drinking on a regular basis. [4] In 2021, Wisconsin recorded an average alcohol death rate of 55 per 100,000 residents, compared to 49.7 in Sheboygan County. Though this lower number may seem promising, Sheboygan still sees more alcohol-related deaths than dozens of other counties throughout the state.
Hospitalizations due to alcohol abuse are even more troubling. In 2021, Sheboygan County recorded 573 emergency room visits and 738 inpatient hospital visits caused by alcohol. This made Sheboygan County the 15th and 13th worst county in the state for these respective statistics. While there’s no study revealing the reason for the differences between the rate of deaths and hospitalizations, it seems to indicate that Sheboygan County has a substantial alcohol abuse problem, even though it does a relatively good job of lowering the number of fatal overdoses. [5]
Opioid abuse is not quite as prevalent as alcohol abuse in Sheboygan and the rest of the county, but it still contributes to dozens of deaths every year. In 2021, Wisconsin recorded an average of 24.6 opioid deaths per 100,000 residents, compared to 19.9 in Sheboygan County. However, based on data from previous years, Sheboygan appears to be outpacing the rest of the state, with an increasing number of opioid deaths each and every year.
In the same year, Wisconsin recorded an average opioid hospitalization rate of 53.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to just 34.5 in Sheboygan County. As previously mentioned, this shows a large disparity between the high number of deaths and the comparatively low number of hospitalizations in the city of Sheboygan and the rest of the county. [6]
This data should give you an idea of the crisis in Sheboygan, but it’s important to consider the specific numbers coming out of the city. So, here are some of the most recent findings related to overdoses and deaths in Sheboygan, Wisconsin:
- Annual Overdoses: 87
- Alcohol-Related Deaths: 40
- Opioid-Related Deaths: 12
- Non-Opioid Drug-Related Deaths: 2
Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Efforts in Sheboygan
As of 2023, the city of Sheboygan does not have any active programs to deter substance abuse. At the county level, Sheboygan manages various programs to help educate students on the dangers of addiction. Additionally, Sheboygan County operates a mental health treatment center with some resources for people struggling with substance abuse.
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. Many Sheboygan residents seek out help from quality inpatient rehab clinics like Wellbrook Recovery, as well as nearby detox clinics like Midwest Detox.
Drug and Alcohol Detox in Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Sheboygan has had its fair share of struggles over the years, and the growing addiction crisis is only making it harder to live comfortably in the city. While it is a beautiful place to work and raise a family, current trends indicate that a large segment of Sheboygan’s population is battling substance abuse. Since many people choose to suffer in silence, it is all the more important to reach out for help.
Fortunately, you can get the help you need from quality providers like Midwest Detox. Rather than suffering through your addiction or trying to manage potentially fatal withdrawal symptoms on your own, you should get treatment from trained professionals in a safe and comfortable environment. At Midwest Detox, we offer the best possible care while you cleanse your mind and body of addictive substances. Our staff is ready to help you every step of the way, and we will do everything possible to reduce the severity of your withdrawal, making it easier to get sober and 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.