Prior to the 1980s most schools around the country had courses in health education, tobacco education, alcohol education, or drug education. In these courses, students typically were taught that using tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs was bad for their health. Students learned how these substances affected the body, how long the effects lasted, and even how people used them. Many of these education programs tried to scare students by pointing out how many people die each year from drug abuse. The people who designed these programs believed that if students really knew how harmful smoking, drinking, or using drugs is, they would not do it. However, teaching facts or using scare tactics did not work as people expected, and prevention programs had to change. New research showed that, to be effective, prevention programs must deal with the causes of drug abuse.

The spouse of a person abusing substances is likely to protect the children and assume parenting duties that are not fulfilled by the parent abusing substances. If both parents abuse alcohol or illicit drugs, the effect on children worsens. Extended family members may have to provide care as well as financial and psychological support. Grandparents frequently assume a primary caregiving role. Friends and neighbors may also be involved in caring for the young children. In cultures with a community approach to family care, neighbors may step in to provide whatever care is needed. Sometimes it is a neighbor who brings a child abuse or neglect situation to the attention of child welfare officials. Most of the time, however, these situations go unreported and neglected.

The risk of drug dependence increases if sedative-hypnotics are taken regularly for more than a few months, although problems have been reported within shorter periods. The onset and severity of withdrawal differ between the BZDs that are rapidly eliminated from the body (such as triazolam [Halcion]) and those that are slowly eliminated (such as diazepam [Valium]). In the drugs that are rapidly eliminated, symptoms appear within a few hours after stopping treatment of the drug and may be more severe. In drugs that are eliminated slowly, symptoms usually take several days to appear. The frequency and severity of the withdrawal symptoms—which include gastrointestinal problems, loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, sweating, trembling, weakness, anxiety, and changes in perception (such as increased sensitivity to light, sound, and smells), depends on the dosage, duration of use, and whether usage ceases abruptly or tapers gradually. Obvious withdrawal symptoms typically last two to four weeks; however, the more subtle symptoms may last for months. Although the barbiturates do not directly cause CNS damage, some individuals with asthma may have a hypersensitive reaction to these drugs. Many individuals who are prescribed barbiturates develop an extreme sensitivity to sunlight known as photosensitivity. In addition, physical dependence on barbiturates can be one of the most dangerous of all drug dependencies; growing tolerance can lead to chronic use close to a lethal level, and abrupt withdrawal can cause symptoms severe enough to lead to death.

According to IMS Health data, the annual number of OxyContin prescriptions for noncancer pain increased nearly tenfold, from about 670,000 in 1997 to about 6.2 million in 2002.27 In contrast, during the same 6 years, the annual number of OxyContin prescriptions for cancer pain increased about fourfold, from about 250,000 in 1997 to just over 1 million in 2002. The noncancer prescriptions therefore increased from about 73 percent of total OxyContin prescriptions to about 85 percent during that period, while the cancer prescriptions decreased from about 27 percent of the total to about 15 percent.

Cocaine is brought into Wisconsin by Mexican drug trafficking organizations. Mexican DTOs transport large shipments of cocaine from the southwest border either through Chicago or to Milwaukee directly, hidden within shipments of legitimate goods in tractor-trailers.

Per recent reports from various law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin, club drugs were available in their jurisdictions, albeit at low levels.

In eastern and central Wisconsin, there is a concern regarding the availability, distribution, and abuse of powder and crack cocaine, as well as the increasing availability of high purity heroin; and the number of new users, particularly in the Milwaukee area.

There were 4 meth lab incidents in Wisconsin in 2007.

Marijuana is the most easily available and most widely used drug in Wisconsin.

In Wisconsin, DEA Green bay reports that there is limited availability of methamphetamine in the area.