Drug & Alcohol Addiction Rehab, Treatment & Recovery Resources in Wisconsin

1. Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Services AODA Outpatient Clinic

Located in Waukesha, Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Services AODA Outpatient Clinic earned the highest overall score in our rankings with 8 points out of 10 possible points. The clinic provides adolescents and adults with outpatient substance abuse rehabilitation services that include medication-assisted treatment and relapse prevention. Its implementation of a wealth of treatment approaches, such as brief intervention, trauma-related counseling, motivational interviewing, and relapse prevention, among other modalities, earned the clinic full points in this category.

It also scored high in the category of Special Programs for Unique Demographics due to its multitude of programs custom-tailored to unique populations, ranging from adolescents to transitional age young adults to individuals with co-occurring mental health disorders. Cost was the clinic’s lowest-scoring category; however, it does accept Medicare, Medicaid and other state-financed health insurance, government funding for substance abuse programs, private health insurance, and self-payment, in addition to offering a sliding fee scale based on income and other factors.

• Rehabilitation Services Provided: 7.77
• Treatment Approaches: 10
• Cost: 6
• Special Programs for Unique Demographics: 8.35
• Ancillary Services: 7.1

2. Wood County Human Services AODA Program

Wood County Human Services AODA Program in Wisconsin Rapids placed second in our rankings with an overall score of 7.6 points out of 10 points. The center provides outpatient substance abuse rehabilitation services to adult clients, including patients on opioid medications, through medication-assisted treatment. Treatment is accessible to many, as the center accepts Medicare, Medicaid and other state-financed health insurance, TRICARE, IHS/Tribal/Urban (ITU) funds, Access to Recovery vouchers, government funding for substance abuse programs, private health insurance, and self-payment as methods of payment. Furthermore, it offers a sliding fee scale based on income and other factors, as well as providing payment assistance, earning it full points in the category of Cost.

It also received a perfect score for its Special Programs for Unique Demographics designed for individuals who represent unique populations, including clients referred from the court system, individuals with co-occurring mental health disorders, and patients who have experienced trauma. The center’s most significant area of weakness was its ancillary services; however, it does offer domestic violence services, comprehensive mental health assessments, social skills development, and individual/group/marital/family counseling, among several others.

• Rehabilitation Services Provided: 6.66
• Treatment Approaches: 6.25
• Cost: 10
• Special Programs for Unique Demographics: 10
• Ancillary Services: 5.68

3. Dodge County Department of Human Services and Health Outpatient Clinic

With 6.9 points out of 10 points, Dodge County Department of Human Services and Health Outpatient Clinic in Juneau provides intensive and regular outpatient substance abuse rehabilitation services, including medication-assisted treatment and relapse prevention, to adolescents and adults. The clinic’s greatest strength was its ancillary services, such as transportation assistance, employment counseling or training, assistance with obtaining social services, and health education services, among many others.

Cost is a low barrier to treatment — the clinic accepts Medicare, Medicaid and other state-financed health insurance, TRICARE, government funding for substance abuse programs, private health insurance, and self-payment and offers a sliding fee scale based on income and other factors. However, its weakest category is Special Programs for Unique Demographics, with programs limited to individuals with co-occurring mental health disorders.

• Rehabilitation Services Provided: 7.77
• Treatment Approaches: 6.25
• Cost: 7
• Special Programs for Unique Demographics: 5.01
• Ancillary Services: 8.52

Start by contacting your referral center

The Wisconsin Addiction Recovery Helpline is a free and confidential resource that provides Wisconsin residents with referrals to statewide substance abuse support and treatment services. The Helpline’s trained resource specialists can be reached 24/7 via phone, text, and online chat. Individuals can also complete a guided search of the online 211Wisconsin database to find providers of substance abuse treatment and supportive services, as well as information regarding health insurance and the costs of treatment.

Additionally, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Division of Quality Assurance offers its own provider search in which residents can filter results by provider name, location, and area of proximity. By also selecting “Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse/Mental Health Treatment Program” as the provider type, residents can locate all substance abuse facilities statewide that match their specific search criteria.

The DHS Division of Quality Assurance also publishes a directory of statewide certified community substance abuse programs. These programs are listed by location and include contact information and available services.

Low-income Wisconsin residents who need assistance covering the costs of substance abuse treatment may qualify for Medicaid services. Visit the DHS Medicaid in Wisconsin page for further information regarding eligibility.

Use our database to find a treatment center near you

The tool below lists all of the treatment centers in the state of Wisconsin recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Input your zip code and select the filter icon to find relevant treatment centers near you.

Wisconsin ranks among the top 10 states for veterans engaging in binge drinking

According to the CDC, Wisconsin ranked among the top 10 states in 2017 for veterans who engaged in binge drinking, with a reported 20.1% of veterans in the state taking part in the dangerous behavior that is often linked to PTSD. This percentage is among the highest for all 50 states; Hawaii reported the greatest percentage of veterans engaging in binge drinking at 21.5%, while Utah was at the bottom of the rankings at 9.1%.

Additional Resources for Parents and Teachers

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ Division of Care and Treatment Services oversees statewide Coordinated Services Teams (CST) Initiatives that optimize the delivery of treatment and support services to children with complex behavioral health challenges. Through these initiatives, county or tribal agencies work with children and their families to develop a comprehensive plan of care based on children’s needs in multiple areas, such as substance use, mental health, juvenile justice, and special education. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has published a directory of counties and tribal agencies to contact for further details about their available CST Initiative services.

Mental Health Resources & Treatment

If you or someone you love is suffering from mental health issues, such as depression, PTSD, eating disorders, or severe anxiety, there are many resources from which to receive help.

Below are a few ways to receive immediate assistance, as advised by MentalHealth.gov:

Emergency Services: If your life (or someone else’s life) is in danger, always start by dialing 911 to gain immediate access to emergency services.

Suicide Prevention: The number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is: 800-273-8255. You can also initiate a private live online chat.

Veterans Crisis Line: Dial the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 and press “1” to talk to someone immediately. You can also access help with a private online chat or text 838255.

Here are two ways to find a provider of mental health treatment in Wisconsin:

Wisconsin Department of Health Services: The DHS website has a section dedicated to educating the general public about mental illness, including a list of community mental health programs and services. Among these programs is a non-residential child and adolescent day treatment program for young Wisconsin residents struggling with emotional and behavioral challenges.

211Wisconsin: The 211Wisconsin Helpline provides state residents with referrals to local mental health treatment resources. Residents can also access the online 211Wisconsin database and complete a guided search for mental health providers.

Individuals who have both substance use and mental health disorders may benefit from dual-diagnosis rehab facilities. Use the appropriate filter in our tool above to find rehabilitation centers with treatment programs designed to meet the unique challenge posed by co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.

Contact the appropriate local organization to find an AA or NA meeting near you

The tool below lists the contact information for local organizations that will connect you to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings near you. Since meeting times and locations change periodically, contact the local groups that coordinate meetings to ensure that the information is up to date.

Over 800,000 Wisconsin residents suffer from mental illness every year

As discussed earlier in this guide, there is a strong link between substance use disorders and mental health disorders. When an individual is afflicted with both of these issues at the same time, health professionals refer to it as co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders or a “dual diagnosis.” Consequently, the prevalence of mental health issues in a given state can also help us to understand the level of substance abuse.

Suicide rates in Wisconsin are higher than the national average

The Centers for Disease Control reports that suicide is the leading cause of death in the United States. The suicide rate has risen in nearly every state from 1999 to 2016, with that rate increasing by more than 30% in half of all 50 states since 1999. Suicide is an act that is often linked to substance abuse. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, substance abuse is a primary risk factor for both adults and adolescents who attempt and/or complete suicide, and this is particularly true for at-risk populations.

Furthermore, the relationship between substance abuse and suicide is multi-faceted and complex. Persons who have substance abuse issues typically also carry other risk factors for suicide, including depression, impulsive behavior, and other struggles with relationships, finances, illness, or unemployment that make them more likely to engage in self-harm. Between 1999 and 2016, Wisconsin witnessed a 25.8% increase in the number of suicides. In 2017, Wisconsin ranked 27th in the country for the number of suicides per 100,000 residents.

Wisconsin has a lower opioid prescribing rate than the overall U.S. rate

Prescription drug abuse – particularly in the form of opioids – has become an epidemic in the United States. While it is difficult to estimate how many individuals use these drugs as prescribed and how many abuse them, the Centers for Disease Control has researched the variation in opioid prescriptions between states, establishing a direct connection between an increased level of opioid prescriptions with a greater potential for dependence and abuse. Across the United States in 2017, 191 million prescriptions for opioids were written by physicians, ultimately leading one in four patients who begins long-term opioid therapy to an addiction.

The rate of homelessness in Wisconsin is slightly less than half the national average

A high rate of homelessness in an area indicates a greater potential for substance abuse issues. Homelessness has been shown to be linked to substance abuse as both a cause and a result; some individuals become homeless due to a substance use disorder, while other individuals who are already homeless frequently turn to substance use to dull the pain and desperation of their situation.

The 2018 Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Point-in-Time Count reported approximately 552,830 homeless individuals in the United States, the equivalent of 17 of every 10,000 U.S. residents. This number represents a decrease of 4.1% since 2014 when the number of homeless persons in the U.S. was around 576,450. Furthermore, homelessness across the United States has decreased by 15% since 2007, the year that HUD began collecting data on the homeless population.

Drug- and alcohol-induced deaths are slightly lower in Milwaukee than the average rate across Wisconsin