Wisconsin is primarily a rural state, but also features one of the largest college communities in the world (Madison) as well as a growing urban center (Milwaukee) – both of which are key players in the drug industry in the “Dairy State.”

What follows is a selection of basic information about drug use in Wisconsin and rehab and treatment opportunities available to its residents.

10 things to Know About Wisconsin Alcohol and Drug Rehab Treatment

1. Located in the heart of the Midwest, Wisconsin sees a heavy influx of drug activity (and drug gangs) from the Chicago area. Those involved in the distribution of drugs in Wisconsin have moved there primarily because most parts of the state lack the law enforcement capabilities found in Chicago.

2. The most widely used drug in Wisconsin is marijuana – found in the largest concentrations around communities such as Green Bay, Madison and Milwaukee.

3. Although Crystal Meth use and production continues to be a problem throughout the State, Wisconsin Department of Justice officials have reported an overall drop in the number of methamphetamine lab incidents over the past several years (with only 4 in 2007, down from 31 in 2006)

4. Wisconsin has a large number of resort communities throughout the state, many of which play home to residential alcohol and drug rehab centers. These bucolic settings are ideal for residential rehab programs because they offer the individual a chance to leave their distractions and temptations at home and focus solely on their recovery.

5. Wisconsin is home to several top dual diagnosis treatment centers. Dual diagnosis refers to those individuals who suffer from both mental illness and drug addiction concurrently. These facilities are crucial as over half of those individuals who have a mental illness also maintain some form of alcohol or drug addiction or substance abuse as well.

6. Drug rehab centers in the Madison area have turned a good portion of their attention to marijuana addiction – as the growing presence of highly potent versions of the drug continue to impact the lives of those who live in this college town.

7. Within the state of Wisconsin, an individual will find rehab facilities devoted to women, men, teenagers, those suffering specifically from alcohol addiction as well as rehab programs for those with drug addictions to cocaine, heroin, crystal meth, prescription painkillers and other potentially harmful drugs.

8. A recent study by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services found that the number of individuals who abuse alcohol, are addicted to alcohol or are involved in alcohol-related car accidents in significantly higher than the rest of the population of the United States.

9. The same study goes on to blame Wisconsin’s high rate of alcohol consumption for the following 2006 statistics: 1,678 died, 5,654 injured and over 88,000 arrested as a direct result of alcohol abuse.

10. With so much alcohol abuse throughout the state, the need remains high for the families of those individuals who have an alcohol problem to reach out to Wisconsin alcohol rehab facilities to make sure their loved ones get the help that they need.

The Importance of Drug and Alcohol Treatment in Wisconsin

It is highly unlikely that Wisconsin residents who are living with a drug addiction or alcoholism will be able to stop the behavior on their own. For many, a professional drug and alcohol rehab program is the only way to get healthy and turn things around.

These facilities do more than just provide effective treatment, they show the individual that they are not alone in their struggles, and that there are people who care and know how to help.