Drug and Alcohol Detox Guide For Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
Sun Prairie is a small, picturesque city, located northeast of Madison. In fact, it is often considered a suburb of the city of Madison and a part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area. As the second largest city in Dane County, Sun Prairie boasts a strong and fast-growing economy, with a population that is on pace to double over the next few decades.
Despite setbacks catalyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Sun Prairie continues to see rapid growth in nearly every sector of its economy. The population grew from a mere 15,473 residents in 1990 to 36,189 in 2021. [1] This growth has helped make Sun Prairie one of the most prosperous cities in Dane County. The poverty rate in Sun Prairie is 6.48%, which is well below the nationwide average of 12.8%. [2] Moreover, the median household income in Sun Prairie rests at $83,409, which compares favorably to the median household income of $67,080 across all of Wisconsin. [3]
With so much growth and prosperity, many would assume that cities like Sun Prairie don’t have to deal with issues like substance abuse. However, the reality is that addiction is just as prevalent in Sun Prairie as it is in many other small cities throughout Wisconsin and the rest of the country. Fortunately, there are county and state-level programs that help provide people with the resources they need to recover. And 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.
Even if you’re not ready for detox, it’s still important to consider the reality of substance abuse in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Continue reading to learn more about the current substance abuse crisis in Sun Prairie, and the resources available to help residents fight addiction.
The Ongoing Substance Abuse Crisis in Sun Prairie
Sun Prairie has a rapidly growing population and is one of the fastest-growing cities in Dane County. As of the latest data, there are more than 36,000 full-time residents of Sun Prairie, compared to 563,951 in all of Dane County. Consequently, Sun Prairie only accounts for about 6.4% of the county population. Since the county has also seen rapid growth in recent years, Sun Prairie’s share of the local population is unlikely to change drastically in the near future.
It’s important to consider the relationship between the populations of Sun Prairie and Dane County, particularly when substance abuse is involved. This is due to the fact that nearly all of the city’s substance abuse data is collected at the county level and is not separated by city or district. This can make the task of identifying substance abuse cases that originated in Sun Prairie more complex.
Nonetheless, it’s important to evaluate the county-level data, as it provides a window into the state of substance in Sun Prairie and the surrounding area. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Dane County has seen a substantial increase in the number of emergency room visits related to alcohol abuse since 2007, though this figure has remained relatively stable since 2014. Alternatively, inpatient hospitalizations caused by alcohol abuse have only seen a slight increase over the same period. Despite these disparities in overdose and substance abuse treatment, the number of alcohol-attributable deaths in Dane County increased by 78.3% between 2014 and 2022. [4] [5] You can see a full breakdown of these statistics in the table below:
| Alcohol Statistics in Dane County | |||
| Year | Emergency Room Visits | Inpatient Hospitalizations | Deaths |
| 2014 | 2,647 | 2,261 | 143 |
| 2015 | 3,073 | 2,359 | 155 |
| 2016 | 2,801 | 2,476 | 160 |
| 2017 | 2,787 | 2,283 | 187 |
| 2018 | 2,919 | 2,409 | 197 |
| 2019 | 3,095 | 2,579 | 210 |
| 2020 | 2,891 | 2,288 | 225 |
| 2021 | 3,134 | 2,491 | 256 |
| 2022 | N/A | N/A | 255 |
As you can see from the table, alcohol-related deaths have risen over the years, with some of the worst recorded years coinciding with the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s not as easy to interpret the data related to emergency room visits and hospitalizations, as the former saw a substantial spike in the years prior to 2014, while the latter has remained pretty consistent since the state of Wisconsin began reporting this type of data. In any case, preliminary data indicates that Dane County saw 40 alcohol-attributable deaths in January and February of 2023. This shows that, if the current trends continue, 2023 will likely meet or exceed 2022 in the number of recorded alcohol-attributable deaths.
Opioids are the second-most abused substance in Dane County. In fact, Dane County has a major problem with opioids, including prescription opioids, street drugs like heroin, and synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Between 2014 and 2022, the number of opioid emergency room visits increased by 248.9%, while the number of opioid inpatient hospitalizations declined by 21.25%. This disparity indicates that fewer people addicted to opioids are seeking out treatment, while more people are experiencing sudden and expected overdoses. Dane County also saw an increase in opioid deaths of 127.86% between 2014 and 2021. [6] [7] You can see the annual figures for opioid abuse in Dane County in the table below:
| Opioid Statistics in Dane County | |||
| Year | Emergency Room Visits | Inpatient Hospitalizations | Deaths |
| 2014 | 136 | 159 | 61 |
| 2015 | 202 | 135 | 56 |
| 2016 | 280 | 156 | 88 |
| 2017 | 319 | 159 | 92 |
| 2018 | 280 | 108 | 85 |
| 2019 | 322 | 122 | 105 |
| 2020 | 364 | 120 | 123 |
| 2021 | 394 | 107 | 139 |
| 2022 | 321 | 100 | N/A |
It’s easy to see that the number of opioid abuse cases peaked during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, based on emergency room visits and deaths. However, it’s not as clear what the future of opioid abuse looks like in Dane County. Emergency room visits dropped substantially in 2022, and preliminary data indicates that the rate of deaths from opioids may be slowing as well. However, it’s still too early to tell.
Dane County is plagued by alcohol and opioid abuse, but there are many other drugs that also contribute to deaths throughout the county each and every year. Heroin (a type of opioid) is frequently abused in Dane County, while stimulants like cocaine and crystal meth are only slightly less common. [8]
What does this all mean for the city of Sun Prairie? Sun Prairie only accounts for 6.4% of Dane County. However, it is estimated that as much as 10% of all substance abuse recorded in the county originated in the city of Sun Prairie.
How Sun Prairie Compares to the Rest of Wisconsin
Sun Prairie and Dane County are among the worst counties in the state for opioid abuse. This is troubling for many reasons, but it’s also concerning that Dane County has such a high rate of alcohol abuse. Why? Because Wisconsin has the highest rates of alcoholism in the country, with roughly 1 in 4 adults engaging in binge drinking on a regular basis. [9]
In 2021, Dane County recorded an average of 48 alcohol deaths per 100,000 residents, compared to 55 in all of Wisconsin. This ranked Dane County as the 47th worst county in the state for alcohol deaths (out of 72 counties). However, the outlook for opioid abuse has been far worse. The same year, Dane County recorded 26.1 opioid deaths per 100,000 residents, compared to the state average of 24.6.
While all of this data gives you a glimpse into the ongoing substance abuse crisis in Dane County, it’s important to look at the facts that specifically pertain to the city of Sun Prairie. To get a more accurate picture of the direct impact of substance abuse at the city level, let’s look at some of the most recent findings related to overdoses and deaths in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin:
- Annual Overdoses: 116
- Alcohol-Related Deaths: 24
- Opioid-Related Deaths: 15
- Non-Opioid Drug-Related Deaths: 2
Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Efforts in Sun Prairie
As of this writing, the city of Sun Prairie does not have any official programs or initiatives to help combat the substance abuse crisis. Like many smaller cities throughout the state of Wisconsin, Sun Prairie depends heavily on resources provided by the county and state. Under the umbrella of Dane County’s Department of Human Services, there are various programs to help those struggling with addiction in Sun Prairie and other nearby cities. For example, the county funds the Behavioral Health Resource Center (BHRC), which helps connect locals with mental health and substance abuse services in the area. Additionally, Dane County offers Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) for qualifying Medicaid patients in need of substance abuse treatment, as well as a 24-hour crisis intervention hotline.
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. Sun Prairie residents seek out help from detox clinics like Midwest Detox, as well as quality inpatient rehab clinics like Wellbrook Recovery.
Drug and Alcohol Detox in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
Sun Prairie is a truly amazing place to live and raise a family. It also happens to be one of the most affluent and fastest-growing cities in the region. Despite these great qualities, Sun Prairie has not escaped the grip of substance abuse and addiction. Dane County and the state of Wisconsin work diligently to combat these issues in small cities like Sun Prairie, but these government initiatives are not always enough on their own.
Fortunately, Midwest Detox is just a phone call away in nearby Brookfield. At Midwest Detox, you can access the absolute best detox treatment in our state-of-the-art facilities. Not only do we offer a comfortable and luxurious place in which to recover, but we also employ highly trained substance abuse experts to monitor your health and overall progress. We work diligently to ensure that you are comfortable and equipped with the skills you need to continue your journey to 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.