In Clark County in Indiana, more than 200 child welfare cases are open right now, many of them in recovery court involving a parent struggling with drugs or alcohol. For those families, access to addiction treatment in Indiana isn’t an abstract question. It’s tied directly to child custody and whether they get their kids back.
The Hoosier State has an abundance of drug addiction programs for people of all backgrounds but has a historical record of removing a high number of children from their homes. Some Clark County parents in that situation are referred to Family Recovery Court, where providers pair treatment with regular court supervision while they work toward regaining custody.
The Clark County Program
The court program requires parents to attend therapy, stay sober, and work on their parenting. They must report back to the court on a regular basis. Nearly every part of recovery is monitored.
Clark County Judge Lisa Reger described the awkward starting point of these relationships. Families typically meet her at the moment a child is removed from the home, which she acknowledged doesn’t make her a welcome figure. She called it a hard decision to have to make.
Reger observed that participation has grown by 60% as more families have entered the program. After seeing many families fight and achieve reunification after staying sober, she described these programs as lifesaving.
One Parent’s Experience
Holly Hays entered Family Recovery Court after losing custody of her son. She was addicted to fentanyl while pregnant and said she knew at the time that her son couldn’t safely stay in her care. When the court placed the baby with her parents, she said part of her felt relief.
Hays recalled the early stretch of the program as the hardest part, and she considered jail as an alternative before going to treatment instead. Her first attempt at treatment resulted in relapse. She kept returning to court week after week.
Reger described weeks on end in which she wasn’t certain Hays would survive to the next hearing. Hays is now sober, married and a graduate of the program.
Understanding Fentanyl and Xylazine
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid far more potent than heroin, which makes overdose possible at very small doses. Common signs of fentanyl addiction include withdrawal symptoms between doses, pinpoint pupils, extreme drowsiness, social withdrawal, and using more than intended despite wanting to stop.
Reger noted that during Hays’s time in the program, the local fentanyl supply was frequently mixed with xylazine, a veterinary sedative, and that naloxone does not reverse it. That is accurate as far as it goes, and it needs one clarification. Xylazine isn’t an opioid, so naloxone has no effect on it.
Still, administer naloxone in any suspected overdose because fentanyl is almost always present alongside xylazine, and reversing the opioid portion can restore breathing. In addition, always call emergency services.
The Takeaway for Families in Indiana
If someone in your family is facing both a child welfare case and a substance use disorder, the Clark County model points to a practical takeaway. Ask the court or caseworker directly whether a family recovery court or problem-solving court operates in your county, and what the referral process looks like.
It’s also worth understanding that treatment and court compliance are two separate tracks that move together. Programs that document attendance and progress for a referring court can make the difference between compliance and a setback.
Addiction Treatment in Clark County & Beyond
For families in Indiana looking at options, a few concrete next steps help:
- Search addiction treatment centers in Indiana by location and level of care
- Ask providers whether they accept court and child welfare referrals and can document participation
- Confirm whether they accept Indiana Medicaid or offer sliding-scale fees
- Ask specifically about medication for opioid use disorder, since fentanyl dependence often requires it
Families can break apart due to addictions. Sometimes, households break up on their own, while other times the courts step in.
That’s where we come in. Our directory lists verified treatment centers across the entire nation. Feel free to browse our listings and dial
800-681-1058
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