Superior Officials Highlight Declining Drug-Related Crime Rate

City of Superior officials say the rate of drug-related crimes in the city has significantly decreased over the last year.

Superior Mayor Jim Paine shared the improving numbers in a social media post on Monday afternoon. He specifically referenced declining rates of overdose responses and property theft.

According to Mayor Paine, law enforcement authorities responded to about 25 percent fewer non-fatal overdose calls last year, and reported zero fatal overdoses. Property thefts fell by about 40 percent compared to the three-year average. Drug-related complaints fell by about 10 percent compared to the previous year.

“I’m deeply grateful to the aggressive and innovative approach of our police department and the many agencies that support them,” Mayor Paine wrote in the post. “We aren’t out of the woods yet. We still have drugs on our streets and a lot of work ahead of us. But it’s now harder to sell drugs in Superior and easier to get help.”

Combatting the opioid epidemic has been a significant focus in Northwest Wisconsin in recent years. A number of counties in the region like Chippewa and Ashland have seen success with harm reduction strategies such as public health vending machines. The City of Eau Claire also created an opioid data dashboard in an effort to more accurately track drug-related incidents to inform future policy decisions.

According to a Northern News Now report, City officials also credited their partnerships with local health organizations for the declining drug-related crime rate. Those organizations work to connect individuals struggling with addiction in the area with critical treatment services.