Drug abuse in Indiana

Indiana has a population of 6,805,985 people. The most recent data from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 882,000 people over the age of 12 had abused illegal substances in the past month, around 12.96% of the population. 811,000 reported marijuana use in the past month and 1,243,000 in the past year. The report also found that 117,000 Indiana residents had abused cocaine in the past year, 110,000 had abused meth, and 244,000 had abused prescription pain medication. 43,000 people over the age of 18 reported using heroin in the last year. Those reporting opioid misuse including heroin, painkillers, and fentanyl in Indiana totaled 254,000 people.

Alcohol abuse in Indiana

Alcohol misuse was also reported in Indiana with 2,748,000 people over the age of 12 saying they had used alcohol in the last month and 1,373,000 reporting binge drinking. The perceived risk of people over 12 years of age indulging in problematic alcohol use (5 or more drinks twice a week) in a month was 2,518,000 people.

Overdose deaths in Indiana

In 2021, Indiana saw a total of 2718 recorded drug-related overdose deaths. This includes those that were accidental or unidentifiable but excludes those that were related to suicide or homicide. This puts the overdose death toll in Indiana at 39.9 people per 100,000. The total number of alcohol-related deaths (including overdose and all other causes) was 1116 or 16.4 per 100,000 people.

Substance abuse treatment in Indiana

The NSDUH report also recorded the total amount of substance abuse disorders in Indiana and those who currently require treatment. The report found that 1,265,000 were recorded as having a substance use disorder (SUD) and 721,000 had an alcohol use disorder. 156,000 people were recorded as having an opioid use disorder including those with painkiller, heroin, and other opioid-based drug use disorders. There are also many who have been diagnosed with or reported a substance, illicit drug, or alcohol use disorder that require rehab treatment and are not receiving it. The report found that 589 people in Indiana needed treatment for illicit substance abuse, 758,000 required treatment for an alcohol use disorder, and 1,118,000 needed treatment for a diagnosed substance use disorder.

What treatment options are available in Indiana?

Rehab centers use various treatment methods to help you deal with your addiction. The services are provided in inpatient or outpatient settings according to the program you choose and the length of your treatment.

Addiction is a medical illness, so getting the right treatment for your addiction is important. Rehab centers in Indiana offer specialized programs depending on an individual’s age, profession, gender, and pre-existing conditions.

Therapy and counseling are the most common methods to help with drug addiction. Some facilities even combine medication and behavioral therapies as part of the treatment for better results.

Here are some of the common treatment methods used in Indiana rehab centers to help reduce drug use:

Rehab for opioid addiction in Indiana

While drugs like heroin and marijuana are some of the most used drugs in Indiana, many people are dealing with opioid addiction in the state. 

In Indiana, over 200,000 residents have been misusing prescription opioids, so it’s no surprise that substance use treatment admissions are on the rise. 

Dozens of rehab centers in Indiana offer treatment services for individuals suffering from opioid addiction. You can find them below:

  • Cardinal recovery

  • New season Treatment center Semoran

  • Indianapolis Comp treatment center

  • Parkview Behavioral Health

  • Richmond Comprehensive TRT CTR

  • VA Northern Indiana Healthcare

  • Bowen Recovery center

  • Community Medical Services/ Marion

What is an intervention?

An intervention is a coordinated attempt to confront an individual about substance use and how it affects their lives and those around them.

Some participants in this intervention are friends, colleagues,  family members, and sometimes trained health professionals. Most of the time, the interventions take place in a safe environment, and the family members are coached by counselors from rehab centers to help them prepare.

Interventions may not always be successful, but they are very effective in bringing to the surface the addiction problem and its effects on the individual’s life and relationships.

How do I pay for rehab in Indiana?

If you’re seeking addiction treatment in Indiana, the amount you pay will depend on the facility you choose and the length of your treatment program.

If you have insurance, it can help you pay for either part of or the entire rehab cost. Most Indiana rehab centers accept private, public, and military insurance to cover treatment services. 

If all these options are not available, you can reach out to family and friends to help raise the amount you need. Crowdfunding sources like GoFundMe also come in handy if you’re short on cash and urgently need addiction treatment.

Government assistance for addiction treatment in Indiana

The Division of Mental Health and Addiction in the Indiana State government offers numerous addiction services for Indiana residents.

This division certifies all addiction treatment providers in the state to ensure you get quality services to help you beat your addiction. They also provide specialist addiction services for the deaf and hard of hearing and individuals with gambling problems.

The Division of Mental Health and Addiction also offers an opioid treatment program to help you maintain a substance-free life. They provide medication and a complete range of nurses and counselors to work with clients and help them manage their opioid use. Another popular treatment option for opioid treatment in Indiana is individual and group therapy.


The mental health and addiction division also provides an addiction treatment hotline, 800 662-HELP (4357), where you can reach them for any questions or inquiries.