Drug Addiction

Drug Addiction Is Killing Milwaukee County

Milwaukee County is in the midst of a public health emergency. Since 2016, 4,510 residents have died from drug overdoses. That’s more than the population of many Wisconsin towns—gone. This staggering number reflects a public health emergency that has devastated families and communities.  And the crisis is far from over.

In just the first four months of 2025, 124 people have already died from overdoses. That’s one death every single day. These are not statistics. These are sons, daughters, parents, neighbors—human lives lost to a preventable epidemic.

Black Men Are Dying in Disproportionate Numbers

The data is clear: Black men born between 1951 and 1970 are being killed by drugs at alarming rates. This is not just a health crisis—it is a racial justice crisis. 72% of medically monitored detox admissions and 86% of intoxication monitoring admissions at the Milwaukee County Detox Center are Black individuals. The system is failing them.