This report provides information on opioid use, dependency, and abuse in Wisconsin. The overuse and addiction to opioids – prescription pain killers and illegal drugs such as heroin – is a serious national crisis that affects families, individuals and the social welfare of communities.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services – Opioids: Direct Data
In 2018, there were 836 overdose deaths involving opioids in Wisconsin – a rate of 14.5 deaths per 100,000 persons. A decrease of almost 10 percent from 2017 when there were 932 overdose deaths – a rate of 16.1 deaths per 100,000.
Since 2014 there has been a significant increase in synthetic opioid deaths (mainly fentanyl): a rise from 90 deaths in 2014 to 504 deaths in 2018.
Deaths involving heroin also increased in the same 5-year period: from 269 deaths to 327 deaths.
There were 297 deaths involving prescription opioids in 2018, an 11.6 percent decrease from 336 in 2014.
As of 3/31/2019, there have been 200 opioid-related deaths in the year.