Why It Matters
Milwaukee County recorded 383 fatal overdoses in 2025, marking the lowest death toll in a decade and a dramatic reversal of a crisis that peaked just three years earlier. The decline demonstrates how coordinated community response programs can counter synthetic opioid epidemics that have devastated communities nationwide.
What Happened
The Milwaukee Overdose Response Initiative, launched in 2019 under the city fire department, has helped drive overdose fatalities down from a 2022 peak of 674 deaths. Lieutenant Jonathan Belott, who has led the program since its creation, credits partnerships across multiple agencies and community organizations for connecting people in crisis with treatment and support services.
The initiative distributes Hope Kits and deploys peer support specialists alongside firefighters to reach overdose survivors. Team supervisor Robert Rehberger and peer support specialist Amy Molinski work directly with people who have experienced overdoses, providing immediate intervention and follow-up care.
By the Numbers
Milwaukee County saw 383 fatal overdoses in 2025, down from 674 in 2022. Between 2017 and 2025, the county recorded 4,582 overdose deaths total. The 2025 figure represents the lowest annual death count since 2016, according to county health data.
The epidemic peaked during a period when fentanyl contamination spread through cocaine, heroin, and prescription pills circulating in Milwaukee.
Zoom Out
Overdose deaths nationally have exceeded deaths from homicide, car accidents, and suicide in recent years. The synthetic opioid crisis has affected people across all age groups, from children under 5 to adults in their 70s. Milwaukee’s success in reducing fatalities comes as many communities continue struggling with fentanyl-related deaths.
What’s Next
The Milwaukee Overdose Response Initiative continues operating out of its fire station headquarters on Fiebrantz Avenue. Program leaders emphasize that sustained community partnership will be necessary to maintain progress against overdose deaths in the coming years.