January 30th 2025.
As the rest of the country sees a decline in the opioid epidemic, there is a concerning trend emerging in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A new report from The Baltimore Banner, The New York Times, and Stanford University's Big Local News has revealed that a growing number of older Black men in Milwaukee are dying from fentanyl-related causes. This data has shed light on a critical crisis facing this demographic: between 2018 and 2022, 12.5% of all drug-related deaths in Milwaukee County were among Black men born between 1951 and 1970, despite making up only 2.3% of the population. Their drug mortality rate was shockingly high, at 14.2 times the national average and 5.5 times higher than other residents of Milwaukee County.
Following the initial discovery of this crisis in Baltimore, The New York Times and The Baltimore Banner found similar patterns in numerous other counties across the United States, as reported by the Wisconsin Watch. A total of 10 news outlets, including the Wisconsin Watch and Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, are now investigating this research further. The issue is not limited to just Milwaukee - six other Wisconsin counties, including Brown, Dane, Kenosha, Racine, Rock, and Waukesha, ranked among the top 408 counties in the nation for drug-related deaths between 2018 and 2022. However, Milwaukee County stands out with its disproportionately high rate of Black men dying from drug-related causes.
Disturbingly, the numbers have continued to rise even as the rest of the country sees a decrease in the opioid crisis. According to data from the medical examiner, 74 older Black men in Milwaukee County died from drugs in 2024, accounting for 17.3% of all drug-related deaths that year. This is an increase from 2023, when 16.2% of drug-related deaths were among this group, and from 2022, when it was 14.1%.
Tragically, the story of Hamid Abd-Al-Jabbar is all too common among these drug-related deaths in Milwaukee. After serving time in prison for a 1988 drug house robbery where he shot and killed a man, Abd-Al-Jabbar became a peace activist. However, he carried a lifetime of pain, trauma, and internal struggles, never seeking help from others. Drugs, specifically cocaine, became an outlet for him. In February 2021, at only 51 years old, he died from a mixture of fentanyl and cocaine.
Abd-Al-Jabbar's story is reflective of many other older Black men who have died from drug-related causes. A majority of them had used cocaine laced with fentanyl - a potent and fast-acting drug that has fueled the national opioid crisis. Many also had a history of incarceration.
The disparities seen in Wisconsin are compounded by the state's high incarceration rate for Black men, one of the highest in the country. Coupled with significant gaps in education, public health, housing, and income, this creates a challenging environment for Black men. Limited resources and ongoing stigma make it difficult for this demographic to access drug treatment. While there are some organizations providing comprehensive care, they are not enough to meet the needs of the community.
According to Lia Knox, a mental wellness consultant in Milwaukee, the higher rates of community violence, untreated mental health issues, and systemic racism experienced by Black men all contribute to their increased risk of incarceration, addiction, and death. It is clear that urgent action must be taken to address this crisis and provide adequate support and resources for older Black men in Milwaukee who are struggling with drug-related issues.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
