Waukesha County Declares Fentanyl a Community Health Crisis

On Monday, August 1, 2022, Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow declared fentanyl a community health crisis. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 100 times more powerful than morphine, is fueling overdose deaths across the US and Wisconsin. 

 Today’s declaration includes County directives to:   

• Distribute opioid settlement money, in partnership with the County Board, to support Narcan training, the District Attorney’s pre-trial diversion programming, and other related purposes.  
• Implement the Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) initiatives, in partnership with public and private entities and surrounding counties to share data and best practices.  
• Launch a local public information initiative utilizing the US Drug Enforcement Agency’s ‘One Pill Can Kill’ campaign.  
• Create a set of measurable objectives to track the county’s efforts in the fight against fentanyl that will be evaluated on a quarterly basis.   

“Many people think they are taking a prescription medication, but they are taking fentanyl instead,” said Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow. “This deadly drug is appearing in every community across the United States, including here at home. Now, we are doubling down on our work to save lives.” 

Illegally manufactured fentanyl is often found in counterfeit pills that are made to resemble prescription drugs. This includes prescription pain relievers, like oxycodone or stimulants. Individuals are at risk for fentanyl poisoning if they take pills from any source that is not a licensed pharmacy. 

In Waukesha County, drug-related deaths became the leading non-natural cause of death for adults ages 18-45 in 2020 and 2021, driven by a rise in fentanyl poisoning. Waukesha County saw a record ninety-five drug-related deaths in 2020. In 2021, at least ninety-two people died from drug-related causes, with ten cases still being investigated.  

Overdose Prevention Efforts in Waukesha County  

The Fentanyl Community Health Crisis Declaration is just one of many ways Waukesha County is working to fight the opioid crisis. Waukesha County utilizes a collective impact approach through multiple programs focused on prevention, treatment, and enforcement. 

• On Monday, July 25, the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department’s announced that its Metro Drug Unit will transition into a unit of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) later this year. As a federal task force, the Metro Drug Unit will have an enhanced ability to continue the reduction of available controlled substances within Waukesha County. They will also be able to pursue investigations that lead to source suppliers outside of Waukesha County. Learn more.  

• Waukesha County is working to expand a program that embeds a counselor into the Sheriff’s Department to expedite care for mental health crises. 

• In May, Waukesha County leaders announced new efforts to prevent substance use in the community through allocation of approximately $200,000 to expand prevention efforts in schools and the community.  

• Earlier this year, the Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) added an additional full-time peer support specialist to its Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Use Services Clinic Staff.  

• The Waukesha County Heroin Task Force has relaunched its collaborative work to reduce the impact of the opioid epidemic in the County. Action Teams of key community stakeholders work collaboratively in three key areas: Prevention, Harm Reduction, and Treatment & Recovery to achieve results within a calendar year. 

• HHS maintains a strong relationship with the AODA Volunteers of Waukesha County, who provide valuable outreach, education and support services to individuals in recovery, or who are considering abstinence from drugs or alcohol.  

• The Women’s Health and Recovery Project (WHARP), coordinated by Waukesha County HHS, assists women with substance use disorders, and their children, who have complex needs with issues such as housing, employment, mental health, physical health, transportation, and childcare.   

• From May 2017 to July 23, 2022, more than 305 documented lives have been saved, at least 303 used the overdose reversal drug Naloxone/Narcan, as a result of the Waukesha County HHS Naloxone Project. 

• From May 2017 to June 2022, people who are using, their family members and friends, First Responders, and the general public have been helped through: 521 Naloxone administration training sessions to 4,918 individuals, which includes 1,048 law enforcement personnel. 7,170 Naloxone kits have been distributed free of charge. 

• Waukesha County participates in multiple statewide initiatives, such as Drug Treatment Court, National Prescription Drug Takeback Day and the Wisconsin Injection Drug Use Prevention Project 

About Waukesha County  

The mission of Waukesha County government is to promote the health, safety and quality of life of citizens while fostering an economically vibrant community.  More information is available at www.waukeshacounty.gov.   Follow us on Facebook at and Twitter for updates about County programs and events. More information about Waukesha County’s efforts to combat the opioid crisis is available at www.waukeshacounty.gov/overdoseprevention.  

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Waukesha County Mental Health Center to Reduce Inpatient Psychiatric Bed Capacity to Sixteen

Waukesha County Mental Health Center (WCMHC) will become a 16-bed psychiatric hospital, effective August 1, 2022. The State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services Division of Quality Assurance has approved the WCMHC request to change the status from a 28-bed Institute for Mental Disease (IMD) to a 16-bed psychiatric hospital.

Variables that influenced the decision to reduce the adult psychiatric beds at the county-operated Mental Health Center include demand, capacity, efficiency, and utilization of psychiatric behavioral health services in the community.

The 5-year average daily census at WCMHC has trended downward. In the first six months of 2022, the average daily patient census has been twelve. Since 2020, the trend for total annual patient admissions has risen, while the daily census has averaged less than 16 patients. In 2019, the average patient length of stay was 13.9 days. In the first six months of 2022, the average stay is 7.6 days. The WCMHC trends indicate more patients are admitted yet stay for fewer days. Advances in care and treatment have also reduced the need for longer inpatient stays.

Open bed capacity is not the single factor that determines patient admissions. The unique specialty-care needs of each patient factor into the WCMHC’s capacity decisions to ensure a safe, more therapeutic environment. The WCMHC works to serve its patients, whether admitted voluntarily or involuntarily, with the right services in the right place at the right time.

The change in status from a 28-bed IMD to a 16-bed psychiatric hospital will increase the efficiency of the Waukesha County Mental Health Center. As of August 1, the county will now be eligible to receive reimbursement from the Title 19 Medicaid program for services rendered to patients covered under Medicaid, reducing the burden on county funds.

The reduction in inpatient beds will allow the WCMHC to close one wing of the building and remodel it as a Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU), projected to open in 2024. The CSU will serve as a 24/7/365 intensive, short-term residential treatment unit for individuals willing to receive services when experiencing a mental health emergency or substance use disorder crisis. Recovery-oriented therapeutic interventions in the CSU will help stabilize an individual in crisis. Community behavioral health partners and other care teams will be able to help the individual following their immediate crisis, which will decrease the need for inpatient hospitalization at the Waukesha County Mental Health Center.

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Waukesha County Metro Drug Unit to Become DEA Task Force

The Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office would like to announce that our Metro Drug Unit is in the process of transitioning into a DEA task force later this year. The Metro Drug Unit has been in existence for over twenty-five years; is led by the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office; and is made up of several Waukesha County law enforcement agencies. The Metro Drug Unit investigates local drug complaints of production and distribution of controlled substances within Waukesha County. They also provide investigative support for drug related overdose cases to local law enforcement agencies and drug-based presentations to the community.     

The transition from the Metro Drug Unit to a DEA task force was brought about by the unit’s recent demonstrated ability to successfully identify, disrupt, or dismantle drug trafficking organizations who are responsible for lethal drugs coming into Waukesha County and affecting its citizens. The benefits of becoming a federal task force include increased law enforcement participation, along with financial and investigative support from the federal government.

As a federal task force, the Metro Drug Unit will have an enhanced ability to continue the reduction of available controlled substances within Waukesha County. They will also have the ability to pursue investigations that lead to source suppliers outside of Waukesha County.

Waukesha County Airport Food Truck Fridays Return Friday, June 3

Waukesha County Airport will host its first Food Truck Friday of the season on Friday, June 3, 11 am-1:30 pm. Featured food trucks this week are Denson’s Catering and Sandwich Sisters. This is a free-entry family-friendly event hosted outside the airport terminal building inside the Waukesha County Airport at 2525 Aviation Drive.

The public is welcome to join the aviation community every Friday for lunch from different food trucks from 11 am-1:30 pm, from June 3 through September 2, with the exception of July 1. Attractions include food trucks, airplanes, listening to the air traffic control tower, music and fundraising for local non-profit organizations. A portion of food truck sales will go to the non-profit organization of the day. Come support these organizations in our community and enjoy your favorite food truck eats while plane spotting!

Our non-profit partner and volunteer crew this week is Custom Canines Service Dog Academy. They are a non-profit organization powered by wonderful volunteers and dedicated to raising, training and giving service dogs to individuals with disabilities, free of charge. In so doing, they enable people to live fuller lives of courage and passion with their canine partners at their side. Custom Canines volunteers will be bringing dogs with them to engage with those attending.  


All food trucks, food options and non-profit partner organizations listed on the airport website are subject to change and food prices are set by the food trucks.

More information about Food Truck Fridays food truck schedule, menus (when available), and the non-profit partner organization of the day can be found by visiting https://www.waukeshacounty.gov/Airport/airportevents/ or the airport’s social media accounts.

Waukesha County Airport ranks among the top 4% of General Aviation Airports in the United States. With 70,000 annual aircraft operations, the airport provides an $81 million economic impact to the surrounding community and supports nearly 1,000 jobs.

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Waukesha County Awarded Triple-A Bond Rating, Highest Possible by Rating Organizations

Waukesha County has earned Triple-A bond ratings, the highest possible, from both Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings. The rating signifies exceptional creditworthiness and ability to meet financial obligations. This benefits Waukesha County residents by helping lower borrowing costs and keep the tax rate low.

“A Triple-A bond rating is extremely hard to earn, yet Waukesha County has maintained it through the pandemic and subsequent inflation,” said Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow. “This is a testament to our team’s strong budgetary management, which has guided us through challenging times as we look ahead to future investments.”  

In their report, Moody’s Investors Service highlighted Waukesha County’s “stable financial position supported by strong management and considerable budgetary flexibility.” They also considered the “County’s large, diverse tax base with strong resident income levels and modest leverage and fixed costs.”

Fitch Ratings noted that the County’s Triple-A rating “is based on a wealthy and diverse economic base that is likely to demonstrate steady, if slow, continued growth in light of continued commercial and retail development. The county retains substantial untapped taxing capacity and a low long-term liability burden, which, combined with the county's cautious approach to financial management, support the rating at the current level.”

About Waukesha Counties Triple-A Bond Rating

This year marks the 34th consecutive year that Moody’s has awarded, and the 25^th consecutive year that Fitch has awarded, Waukesha County this rating. In 1998 Waukesha County became the first government in Wisconsin to be awarded AAA bond rating by Fitch Ratings.

Follow Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow on Twitter as @PaulFarrowWI and on Facebook as @CountyExecutivePaulFarrow.

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