Alcohol and Drug Treatment Programs in Indiana

Indiana has been struggling with a drug and alcohol problem that has affected many of its residents. Today, those with substance use disorders in this state continue suffering in a variety of ways - with these conditions sometimes completely overhauling their lives, as well as the lives of everyone who comes into contact with them.

That said, the rates of addiction in Indiana still mirror the drug epidemic that has been plaguing the rest of the United States. This is in spite of the existence of high quality addiction treatment and rehabilitation programs in the state designed to help anyone in need of recovery services.

Today, substance use disorders in Indiana go over and beyond health and wellness. Many of the residents of this state who suffer from addiction often end up losing their financial security, many more experience disruptions in their relationships at home, work, and school.

Their loved ones, on the other hand, are constantly affected by the uncertainty and stress that often accompanies those who have to support, love, and care for people who are struggling with addiction.

Rates of Substance Abuse in Indiana

The NSDUH - or the National Survey on Drug Use and Health - for 2015 and 2016 showed that Indiana residents continue developing drug and alcohol addicts at a rate that is roughly the same as the rest of the country. However, this rate is higher than the Midwestern average.

To counter this problem, Indiana healthcare professionals and lawmakers - as well as many other interested parties - have been focusing their efforts on trying to bring these numbers to an all-time low. They do this by expanding the opportunities for people in need of substance use prevention and treatment services.

In 2010, SAMHSA - the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - reported that Indiana saw 24054 admissions for drug and alcohol addiction treatment.

The previous year, there were close to 290 centers providing this form of substance abuse rehabilitation in the state. 156 of these facilities were providing a mixture of both substance abuse and mental health treatment - also known as dual diagnosis treatment.

Among the people who were admitted for alcohol or drug abuse in Indiana in 2010, 35.5 percent were female while 64.5 percent were male.

Commonly Abused Substances in Indiana

But what are the most commonly abused substances in Indiana. According to the 2008 report from the ONDCP - or the Office of National Drug Control Policy - prescription medications are among the 2nd most abused substances in Indiana. They closely follow marijuana.

In 2011, the Indiana Prevention Resource Center (IU Bloomington) released finding from a study. These findings showed that there was a steep decline in the rates of alcohol abuse among children and teenagers. However, smokeless cigarette and marijuana use in the same population was increasing.

It is believed that this shift could be linked to false beliefs among children and adolescents that marijuana is relatively harmless in comparison to alcohol and other drugs. This could be as a result of Indiana moving to legalize the use of this substance for medical uses.

Read on to learn more about other forms of substance abuse and addiction in Indiana:

1. Alcohol Addiction

In 2010, 4064 people checked into addiction treatment centers for alcohol use disorders - with alcohol as their primary drug of abuse. An additional 4931 sought such rehabilitation for alcohol use disorders alongside another secondary substance use disorder.

2. Marijuana

Cannabis is cited as the most commonly abused drug of choice in Indiana among people checking into addiction treatment facilities. In 2010, for instance, 5121 people checked into these centers as a result of being addicted to and dependent on marijuana.

Today, marijuana is ranked as the first drug in the state in terms of popularity and instances of abuse and addiction. This is because the drug is so available that it is inevitable that most people end up smoking or ingesting it through other routes of administration.

3. Heroin

Over the past few years, the rates of heroin use have been increasingly steadily in Indiana. In 2010, for instance, 1276 people checked into rehab centers for this type of substance use disorder.

Additionally, in some Indiana cities, the number of people who use the drug has increased by 300 percent within the last 3 years. This is according to a news report from 2011.

4. Cocaine

In Indiana, those who checked into rehab centers for cocaine dependence and addiction included a large demographic of people aged between 41 and 45 years. That said, the number of women and men who use cocaine in this state and seek treatment for the resultant addiction was almost equal.

5. Prescription Drugs

About 2183 people went for addiction treatment and rehabilitation as a result of abusing opioids other than heroin. Most of these people - close to 50.7 percent - were women who were abusing prescription medications. This form of substance abuse has also been increasing in the state.

For instance, a 2007 report released by SAMHSA showed that 18 to 25 years olds comprised the largest group of substance users who were taking these drugs for non-medical reasons. This group was closely followed by people between the ages of 26 and 30.

Similarly, the number of prescriptions for OxyContin in Indiana went up from 29 million in 2002 to about 54 million by 2007. This could be the reason behind the increasing rates of prescription drug abuse in the state.

Statistics on Drug Courts, Injuries, and Fatalities in Indiana

Deaths related to substance abuse in Indiana were higher than the total average in the United States. From 2007 to 2008, for instance, the state lost 827 lives. During the same period, 942 lives were lost to motor car accidents.

As of 2007, the state had 28 drug courts. 3 of these courts were dedicated to juvenile delinquents while the rest were for adults. The average age for the state - as well as the national average age - for participants in an adult drug court was between 31 and 33 years.

On the other hand, law enforcement agencies seized many labs in Indiana. Incidents of these types of drug related seizures rose from 803 in 2007 to over 1200 by 2009. Additionally, the number of arrests made for the possession of drugs like Benzedrine and Barbiturates went up to 2720 in 2007 from 1688 in 2003.

Not surprising, Indiana experienced a total of 210 reported fatalities linked to alcohol impaired driving in 2009. The same year, 22618 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol while an additional 16939 were arrested for drunk and disorderly behavior.

The Impact of Opioid Abuse and Addiction in Indiana

Although substance use disorders of any kind can prove deadly, the United States has turned its focus on opioids over the past while. This is because of the rapid increase in the number of deaths linked to opioid abuse - which prompted the Administration to declare it a public health emergency.

Today, therefore, many states have started implementing a wide variety of action plans that are specifically designed to target the abuse of prescription medications that contain opioids.

The CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - reported that the United States lost 63632 lives to drug overdoses in 2015. Of these fatalities, Indiana accounted for 1526. This number included 794 lives lost to opioids in the state.

According to NIDA - the National Institute on Drug Abuse - deaths related to opioid use disorders have been rising steadily over the years. For instance, heroin deaths in Indiana linked to an overdose went up from 114 in 2012 to 297 in 2016. At the same time, deaths arising from synthetic opioid abuse shot up to 304 from 43.

Addiction Prevention in Indiana

Government officials and healthcare professionals in Indiana have been working hand in hand to combat the drug and alcohol problem in the state. Every year, they host a prescription medication abuse symposium at which leaders in the field get to learn about some of the evidence based methods that can use to treat addiction, as well as the special consideration they need to make while managing substance use disorders.

Indiana has also tried to reduce the number of prescription written for opioids. It does this by training front-lining providers on new approaches to support and treat patients suffering from pain related ailments.

Addiction Treatment in Indiana

If you are struggling with an addiction, you might want to look for the right Indiana alcohol and drug rehabilitation center. With so many options available, it could potentially be difficult for you to choose well.

Either way, you can be sure that the program you enroll for should be able to help you overcome your ongoing substance use disorder, as well as provide you with therapy to help you improve your lifestyle in many other ways.

Although the process might take some time and cost you money, you can be sure that it will save you a great deal more of resources - including your life, health, and relationships - in the long term than if you had option to forgo addiction treatment and rehabilitation.