Statistical Data on Drugs in Indiana
Indiana faces significant challenges with substance abuse and drug overdoses. The state consistently ranks above the national average for overdose rates and has seen dramatic increases in drug-related deaths over the past decade. Below is a comprehensive analysis of Indiana’s drug situation using the statistics provided.
Overdose Deaths
- 2022: 2,682 deaths (39 per 100,000) – 26% higher than national average
- 2021: 2,811 deaths (43 per 100,000)
- 2010-2022: Nearly tripled (923 to 2,682)
- Fentanyl involved in 72% of overdose deaths (2022)
- Opioids account for 78% of all drug overdose deaths
Indiana’s overdose death rate has risen dramatically over the past decade, with synthetic opioids like fentanyl driving the crisis. The state consistently exceeds the national average for overdose deaths, indicating a particularly severe epidemic.
County Death Rates (per 100,000)
| Highest | Rate | Lowest | Rate |
| Jennings | 72.6 | Hamilton | 15.3 |
| Marion | 72.1 | Elkhart | 16.4 |
| Grant | 69.7 | Hendricks | 20.3 |
There’s a nearly 5-fold difference between the highest and lowest county death rates, suggesting significant geographic disparities in risk factors, substance availability, and access to treatment services across the state.
Substance Use Rates
- 9% of residents use illicit drugs monthly (vs. 8.8% nationally)
- 10.9% report current marijuana use (ages 12+)
- 3.3% misuse prescription pain relievers
- 0.8% use methamphetamine
Indiana’s substance use rates slightly exceed national averages across most categories, with marijuana being the most commonly used illicit substance. The high prevalence of alcohol use disorder affects over one-tenth of the population.
General Population Substance Use (Ages 12+)
| Substance/Disorder | Past-Year Rate | Trend |
| Marijuana Use | 16.0% | Increased since 2002-2004 |
| Marijuana Use Disorder | 1.6% | No significant change |
| Heroin Use | 0.39% | No significant change |
| Pain Reliever Misuse | 4.6% | Higher than national average (3.7%) |
| Opioid Use Disorder | 1.0% | No significant change |
| Illicit Drug Use Disorder | 3.3% | Increased since 2015-2017 |
Indiana exceeds national averages in prescription pain reliever misuse, highlighting a particular vulnerability in the state’s substance use landscape.
Youth (12-17)
- 8.51% used drugs in past month (2.11% above national average)
- 9.06% used alcohol in past month
- 12.39% used marijuana in past year
Adolescent substance use in Indiana exceeds national averages, particularly for illicit drugs. With nearly 1 in 8 teens using marijuana annually, early intervention programs are critical for this vulnerable population.
Substance-Specific Details
Marijuana
- Most commonly used illicit substance (16.6% past-year use)
- Present in 47.9% of treatment admissions (vs. 29.2% nationally)
- Users in treatment: primarily male, Black, under 18
Opioids
- Prescription rate: 186.5 per 100,000 population (2020 Q3)
- Opioid overdose deaths: 347 (2011) → 1,246 (2019)
- Heroin in treatment admissions: 3.2% (2006) → 23.0% (2018)
Stimulants
- Methamphetamine in treatment: 10.9% (2005) → 34.1% (2018)
- Cocaine in treatment: 12.8% (2018)
- Meth lab seizures: 1,721 (2013) → 62 (2020)
- Children removed from meth homes: 440 (2013) → 7 (2020)
While meth production has decreased dramatically, treatment needs for stimulant use disorders have tripled, suggesting increased availability through trafficking rather than local production.
Treatment System
- 427 treatment facilities statewide
- 37,077 patients served annually
- Average costs: $1,706 outpatient, $54,824 residential
- Only 4 facilities offer free treatment
While Indiana has a substantial treatment infrastructure, the high cost of residential treatment and limited free options create significant barriers to accessing care, especially for uninsured or low-income individuals.
Treatment Admissions
- 47.1% report marijuana use
- 41.3% report methamphetamine use
- 35.4% report opioid use
- 62.8% report polysubstance use (vs. 54.3% nationally)
The high rate of polysubstance use among treatment admissions complicates recovery efforts. Methamphetamine use appears in over 40% of admissions, indicating a significant methamphetamine problem alongside the opioid crisis.
Emergency Services
- 600,000+ annual emergency visits for drug-related poisonings
- 79% increase in overdose-related ER visits during pandemic
- 63% increase in naloxone administration (2020)
Emergency services face overwhelming demand from drug-related incidents, with significant increases during the pandemic. The surge in naloxone administration reflects both the severity of the opioid crisis and expanded access to this life-saving medication.
Economic & Social Impact
- $43 billion: Total opioid-related costs over 15 years
- $4.3 million daily cost to state (2017)
In this statistics:
- 50% of child removal cases related to parental substance use
- 80% of employers report workplace prescription drug misuse
- 103% increase in drug convictions (2013-2017)
- 74% of arrestees test positive for drugs
The substance abuse crisis extends far beyond individual health impacts, creating enormous economic burdens, destabilizing families, affecting workplace productivity, and straining the criminal justice system.
Based on the comprehensive data provided, Indiana faces a severe and worsening substance abuse crisis with overdose death rates 26% above the national average, dramatic increases in fentanyl-related fatalities, significant geographic disparities in mortality, high rates of polysubstance use, and widespread economic and social impacts affecting healthcare, families, workplaces, and the criminal justice system.
Statistical Data on Drugs in Indiana
Indiana faces significant challenges related to alcohol consumption across various demographics. The data reveals concerning patterns of alcohol use, particularly among young adults, and shows the substantial health, safety, and economic consequences of excessive drinking in the state.
Alcohol-Related Deaths
- 2,960 annual deaths in Indiana attributable to excessive alcohol use
- 70.5% of alcohol deaths are male
- 81.8% of deaths are adults aged 35+
- 55.3% of deaths are from chronic causes like Alcohol Use Disorder
- 79,925 years of potential life lost to excessive alcohol use annually
- 5-year average annual rate of excessive alcohol deaths increased by up to 49.7% from 2015-2019
Alcohol-related mortality disproportionately affects men and shows a troubling upward trend. The majority of deaths stem from chronic conditions, indicating long-term misuse. The years of potential life lost metric highlights alcohol’s significant impact on premature mortality.
Alcohol Use Prevalence
General Population
- 44.1% of Hoosiers aged 12+ reported current alcohol use in 2021
- 51.9% of Indiana adults reported alcohol use in 2021 (0.8 percentage point increase from 2020)
- 55.4% of men vs. 46.1% of women reported using alcohol in the past month in 2021
Alcohol use remains prevalent among Indiana adults, with more than half of the adult population reporting consumption. Men consistently show higher rates of alcohol use than women, though women’s rates increased in 2021 while men’s slightly decreased.
Youth and Young Adults
- 8.3% of youth aged 12-17 reported alcohol use in the past month (2017-2019 average)
- 55.1% of young adults (18-25) reported past-month alcohol use in 2020
- 55.6% of Indiana college students reported alcohol use in the past month
- 11.2% of 8th graders, 19.5% of 10th graders, and 28.5% of 12th graders consumed alcohol in the past month
Young adults (18-25) show the highest rates of alcohol consumption, with more than half reporting use. There’s a clear progression of increased alcohol use as students advance through grades, with rates nearly tripling from 8th to 12th grade.
Binge Drinking
- 23.8% of Hoosiers (12+ years) engaged in binge drinking in 2020
- 35.8% of young adults (18-25) reported binge drinking (2017-2019 average)
- 17.1% of Indiana adults binge drink at least once per month
Median drinks per binge: 5.6 (general population), 9.1 (25% most active drinkers)
Binge drinking is particularly prevalent among young adults, with over one-third engaging in this high-risk behavior. The most active drinkers consume nearly twice as many drinks per binge session compared to the general population, indicating a concerning pattern of excessive consumption.
County-Specific Binge Drinking Rates
- Six counties reported 20% binge drinking rates: Dubois, Hancock, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, and Spencer
- Hamilton County: 20% (above state average of 18%)
- Marion County: 18% (matches state average)
- Bartholomew County: 16% (lowest reported rate)
Geographic variations exist in binge drinking rates across Indiana counties, with some areas showing rates significantly above the state average. University towns and suburban areas tend to have higher rates of excessive drinking.
Alcohol-Impaired Driving
- 7,025 alcohol-related collisions occurred in Indiana in 2019; 153 were fatal
- 210 total fatalities from alcohol-impaired driving in 2019
- 26% of total deaths in Indiana caused by alcohol-impaired driving
- 17% of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities involve individuals under 21
Alcohol-impaired driving remains a significant public safety concern, accounting for over a quarter of road fatalities. The notable percentage of underage victims highlights the particular vulnerability of younger populations to alcohol-related traffic incidents.
Treatment and Social Impact
- 28.6% of treatment episodes had alcohol as primary substance in 2021
- 43.4% of total treatment admissions involved alcohol as primary/secondary/tertiary substance
- 11.3% of child removals in 2021 attributable to parental alcohol abuse
In addition to it:
- 10,575 Indiana residents hospitalized with alcohol-related health problems (2019)
- 61 infants born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in a single year
Alcohol misuse creates substantial healthcare demands and social service needs. The impact extends beyond individual drinkers, affecting children and families through parental alcohol abuse and conditions like Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
Economic Impact
- $4.468 billion spent by Indiana taxpayers due to excessive alcohol use in 2010
- Adjusted for inflation: $6.032 billion or $2.65 per drink in 2022 dollars
The economic burden of alcohol misuse in Indiana is substantial, with costs exceeding $6 billion annually when adjusted for inflation. This represents a significant drain on public resources that could otherwise be directed to other services.
Final Thoughts
Indiana faces significant alcohol-related public health challenges, particularly among young adults who show the highest rates of consumption and disorder. The rising trend in alcohol-related deaths, substantial economic costs, and impacts on families highlight the urgent need for targeted prevention strategies addressing high-risk demographics and comprehensive public health initiatives to reduce the wide-ranging consequences of excessive alcohol use.
In general, Indiana faces a dual crisis of alcohol misuse and drug overdoses, with alcohol affecting half of adults and drug deaths nearly tripling since 2010. Geographic disparities are stark, with some counties experiencing five times the mortality rates of others. The economic toll is massive—$6 billion annually for alcohol misuse and $43 billion over 15 years for opioids. These statistics highlight the urgent need for targeted prevention and accessible treatment services across the state.
Sources:
- Drug Abuse Statistics
- Drug Abuse & Addiction Statistics in Indiana
- Drug Fact Sheet Substance Use In Indiana
- Drug and Alcohol Abuse In Indiana | Avenues Recovery
- How many drug overdose deaths happen every year in Indiana? | USAFacts
- The Drug Crisis in Indiana
- Homelessness and Addiction Statistics Indiana
- Indiana Drug-Related Crime Statistics
- Behavioral Health Barometer: Indiana, Volume 6
- Substance Misuse in Indiana
- The Impacts of Alcohol in Indiana – Landmark Recovery
- Indiana Drug Use Statistics, Indiana Drug Abuse Statistics