Wisconsin Substance Use Statistics: What the Data Shows

The data shows that substance use disorders are common in the United States, that most people who need treatment do not get it, and that Wisconsin has recently seen a sharp drop in opioid overdose deaths while binge drinking remains a costly problem. Numbers like these can feel abstract, but they help explain why getting care early matters and why help is easier to find than many people think.

This guide walks through the most recent national survey results, what Wisconsin's own health data says about opioids and alcohol, and how to read these figures without losing sight of the person behind them. It is general information, not medical advice. If you are in crisis, call or text 988. For free, confidential treatment referrals at any hour, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.

How common are substance use disorders nationally?

The best national snapshot comes from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), a yearly federal survey run by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In its 2024 results, SAMHSA estimated that 48.4 million people aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder in the past year, about 16.8 percent of that population.¹

A substance use disorder is a medical condition, not a character flaw. It ranges from mild to severe, and it can involve alcohol, prescription medications, cannabis, opioids, stimulants or other drugs. The survey also found that marijuana use disorder rose from 6.0 percent of people aged 12 or older in 2021 to 7.1 percent in 2024, a reminder that the picture shifts from year to year.¹

If you want to understand the conditions behind these numbers, our pages on substance use treatment and drug addiction explain how care is organized.

How many people who need treatment actually get it?

This is the number that surprises most readers. The same 2024 survey found that only about 19.3 percent of people aged 12 or older who needed substance use treatment received it in the past year. Put another way, roughly four out of five people who could benefit from care went without it.¹

The gap is just as wide for medication. NIDA reports that FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder, such as methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone, reduce the risk of overdose death, yet fewer than 1 in 5 people with opioid use disorder are treated with these medications.² You can learn how medication fits into care on our medication-assisted treatment page.

The reasons for the gap vary: cost worries, not knowing where to start, stigma, or simply not feeling ready. None of them mean a person cannot get better. They mean the first step is often the hardest one.

What does Wisconsin's data show about opioids?

Wisconsin has recorded real progress. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) reported in April 2026 that opioid overdose deaths in the state fell 42.5 percent from 2023 to 2024, dropping from 1,422 deaths to 817.³ DHS's opioid data module adds that all drug overdose deaths in 2024 were 33 percent lower than the year before and have returned near levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic.⁴

Two cautions help put this in context. First, early counts can change slightly as death records are finalized, so different DHS publications may show figures that differ by a death or two. Second, a lower number is still hundreds of Wisconsin families each year. The decline is a reason for hope, not a reason to stop paying attention.

If opioids are part of your story or a loved one's, our pages on opioid addiction treatment and naloxone training are good next steps.

What does the data show about alcohol?

Alcohol is the substance most Wisconsin residents know best, and its costs are easy to underestimate. According to DHS, binge drinking in Wisconsin costs almost $4 billion a year, about $700 per Wisconsin resident, and over two-thirds of that economic cost is lost productivity.⁵

Nationally, the 2024 survey found that the alcohol use disorder rate among people aged 12 or older fell from 10.6 percent in 2021 to 9.7 percent in 2024, while the drug use disorder rate rose from 8.7 percent to 9.8 percent over the same period.¹ That means alcohol remains one of the most common reasons people seek care, even as drug use disorders become more common.

Our alcohol addiction treatment page explains the levels of care available, from outpatient counseling to residential care.

How should you read addiction statistics?

Statistics describe groups, not individuals. A few points keep them in perspective:

Statistic type	What it tells you	What it does not tell you
Survey prevalence (NSDUH)	How common a condition is across a population	Whether any one person will develop it
Treatment receipt	How many people who needed care got it	How well that care worked
Overdose deaths	The most severe harm, tracked through death records	The many people living in recovery
Economic cost	The burden on workplaces, health care and communities	The personal cost to a family

It also helps to remember what recovery looks like over time. NIDA explains that relapse rates for drug use are similar to rates for other chronic medical illnesses, which is why a return to use is a signal to adjust treatment rather than proof that it failed.⁶ For a closer look at outcomes, see our article on whether addiction treatment works.

What can you do with this information?

The clearest lesson from the data is that most people who need help are not getting it, and that treatment and overdose prevention efforts can change the numbers. If you or someone you love is struggling, you do not need to wait for things to get worse.

• Start with an assessment, which helps match you to the right level of care.
• Ask about medication if opioids or alcohol are involved.
• Check what your insurance covers, including BadgerCare Plus if you have it.
• Keep naloxone on hand if anyone in your home uses opioids.

For questions to ask before you choose, read our guide on how to choose a rehab program in Wisconsin, then browse providers on our Medicaid treatment page if you have BadgerCare Plus.