Drug and Alcohol Detox Guide For West Allis, Wisconsin
West Allis, WI combines the safety and comfort of suburban life with the excitement and convenience of big-city living. Officially established as a city in 1906, West Allis came into existence as a manufacturing town on the western edge of Milwaukee County. Successful businessman Edward P. Allis made the area a hub for manufacturing when he built his second Milwaukee-based plant there in 1902. The plant brought jobs, wealth, and an influx of people, inspiring the local government to change the name from Honey Creek to West Allis upon its incorporation as a city.
Throughout the early and mid-20th Century, West Allis saw unprecedented growth and expansion, becoming one of the biggest and most prosperous cities within the Milwaukee Metropolitan Area. However, the Allis-Chalmers manufacturing company that employed a large percentage of locals filed for bankruptcy in 1987. While the company continued to operate throughout the 1990s, it would close its last Milwaukee-based office in 1999. An indirect result of the company’s bankruptcy was the subsequent population decline in West Allis. The population hit its peak in 1990 with 63,205 full-time residents, only to see that number slowly drop to 59,434 by 2021. Even with the declining population, West Allis is still the 12th most-populated city in Wisconsin.
Despite the economic difficulties of the late 20th Century, West Allis has still maintained its status as a safe, family-friendly place to live. The city is home to dozens of walking trails and public parks, including the historic Winsconsin State Fair Park, where the city hosts the state fair every August. Even if you’re not interested in the beautiful nature and scenery, there is still plenty to do in West Allis, as the city is home to dozens of community theaters, art galleries, street festivals, and holiday parades. Plus, the city’s close proximity to central Milwaukee makes it easy for local residents and visitors to enjoy everything that Milwaukee has to offer as well.
While West Allis really is a great place to live, many of the city’s highpoints have been overshadowed by the growing addiction problem plaguing the greater Milwaukee area. Drug and alcohol addiction have been on the rise in the area for decades, but the COVID-19 pandemic only increased feelings of fear, isolation, depression, and economic uncertainty. This, in turn, led to a sharp spike in substance abuse that has only continued, even as the pandemic has weakened in West Allis and the rest of the country.
If you live in West Allis and you’re struggling with addiction, you don’t need to fight it alone. Midwest Detox (in Brookfield) is just a 15-minute drive from West Allis and provides comprehensive, private stabilization services to help you reach recovery. But before you reach for the phone to make that call, it’s important to understand exactly how addiction is affecting the community in West Allis. Continue reading to see the extent of addiction in West Allis, Wisconsin, as well as the local efforts to combat drug and alcohol abuse and the available resources to help those in need.
The Ongoing Substance Abuse Crisis in West Allis
Much of the data related to drug and alcohol abuse in West Allis is reported at the county level. This means that, unfortunately, it can be difficult to separate the cases of overdoses and addiction-related deaths in West Allis from the rest of Milwaukee. However, looking at the data still gives us a glimpse into the ongoing crisis taking hold in southeastern Wisconsin.
The good news is that alcohol deaths in Milwaukee County are down since their peak during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, the county recorded 528 alcohol-related deaths. That number increased by an astounding 30% the next year, reaching 687. 2021 saw another increase, albeit much smaller, to 699 deaths. Fortunately, these numbers saw a drastic decline in 2022, with 533 recorded deaths. While the last figure is a reason to celebrate that alcohol-related deaths have declined since the height of the pandemic, the bigger trend is not as comforting. Between 2014 and 2022, the death rate as a result of alcohol abuse has increased by an average 31%, with no indication of slowing down over the long term. [1]
Unfortunately, the outlook for drug-related deaths has been even worse, particularly when it comes to opioids. In 2019, the county recorded about 75 deaths per month from opioid overdoses. By 2022, the monthly average increased to a shocking 113 opioid deaths. [2] These statistics don’t even include stimulants like cocaine (which is increasingly common in local overdose cases), or heroin or meth, which are becoming less common in Milwaukee County. And while opioids like fentanyl are still the number-one killer in the county by far, more than half of all overdose reports include multiple drugs and addictive substances.
Since this data does not specifically target West Allis, it’s important to understand what these numbers look like for the city of nearly 60,000 people. Relative to all of Milwaukee County, West Allis makes up just 6.5% of the county’s total population. This means that, on average, there are about 8 drug deaths and 3 alcohol deaths in West Allis each month (as of 2022). This is relatively low for a mid-sized city, but since the numbers are trending upward, experts fear that West Allis will only continue to see more drug and alcohol deaths in the coming years.
How West Allis Compares to the Rest of Wisconsin
Since the sample size is relatively small, West Allis appears much better off than the rest of Wisconsin — at first glance. However, the truth is that both alcohol and opioids have had an unprecedented impact on West Allis and the rest of Milwaukee County. For example, roughly 55 out of 100,000 citizens in Wisconsin died as a result of alcohol abuse, while about 57 out of 100,000 citizens in Milwaukee County died from alcohol abuse.
The statistics for opioid deaths are even more grim. The rate of opiod deaths in Milwaukee County are nearly double the rates seen throughout the rest of the state. The county also saw 8,146 alcohol-related emergency room visits and 3,134 opioid-related emergency room visits in 2021 alone. Of these visits, more than 700 originated from West Allis. Currently, the county ranks #1 in the state of Wisconsin for the most alcohol and drug-related hospitilazations. [3]
Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Efforts in West Allis
Like many cities throughout Wisconsin, West Allis focuses most of its attention on the ever-growing opioid crisis. The West Allis-West Milwaukee Community Coalition funds a prescription drug drop-off box that is available 24/7 in the front lobby of the West Allis Police Department. [4] This makes it easier for people struggling with prescription opioid addiction to safely dispose of their drugs before seeking out treatment. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services also offers a variety of statewide programs and resources to educate residents on the dangers of addiction, including the Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) Program.
However, if you’re looking for more immediate treatment for addiction, it is best to reach out to a qualified detox clinic that serves West Allis, like Midwest Detox.
Drug and Alcohol Detox in West Allis, Wisconsin
Whether you’re looking to recover from alcohol addiction, opioid addiction, or multi-substance addiction, Midwest Detox has the expertise and resources to help. We are an inpatient detox facility that specializes in both drug and alcohol detoxification. Not only do we understand the challenges of substance use disorders, but we also offer an evidence-based approach to recovery. This means you can get the best possible care in a supportive environment while you cleanse your body of toxic and addictive substances.
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.