Substance Abuse and Overdose Statistics in Elkhart, Indiana
To put the substance misuse situation and its consequences in Elkhart County into perspective, here are the most recent statistics:2, 3
Between 2014 and 2019, at least 87 deaths were caused by opioids.
Opioids, including heroin, prescription, and synthetic opioids accounted for the most emergency department visits in 2022 for Elkhart County.
In 2022, Elkhart County has counted 20 overdose deaths, with the highest amount of these deaths occurring in white females within the age range of 35-44.
In 2022, overdose deaths involved opioids, four involved cocaine, and at least three involved benzodiazepines.
By the third quarter of 2022, approximately 116 opioid prescriptions are being written per 1,000 people in Elkhart County.
There have also been at least 218 emergency department visits due to substance misuse with the highest amount of visits occurring within the age range of 15-24.
In 2021, 18% of Elkhart County adults reportedly drank excessively.
So far, at least 86 of these emergency department visits due to drug overdoses have resulted in hospitalization.
Levels of Substance Abuse Care
Indiana offers several levels of care for addiction treatment. Some people start with inpatient care and make their way through the various levels, while others can begin the process with less intensive treatment.
Alcohol and Drug Detoxification
Detox is often the first step, allowing you to move on to formal treatment services once it is complete. It is the process of safely and comfortably removing drugs or alcohol from your system, in a supervised setting.
Inpatient Drug and Alcohol Rehab
Inpatient rehab, also called residential treatment, involves living at a facility to receive 24/7 care. Treatment methods typically include individual and group therapy, medication, and nutritional counseling.
Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs)
PHPs allow you to attend treatment at a hospital while living at home. Treatment services provided are usually the same as inpatient care, but you only stay at the hospital during treatment times, then return home.
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs)
IOPs involve attending several hours of counseling over a few days each week. You spend the rest of your time working, at home, or fulfilling other obligations.
Standard Outpatient
Standard outpatient care is the least intensive treatment option, involving just one to two hours of treatment per week. This option is appropriate for highly motivated people with a strong support system.
Relapse Prevention
Relapse prevention, or aftercare, begins once you complete a rehab program. It includes ongoing support, such as 12-step groups, non-12-step groups like SMART Recovery, ongoing therapy, sober living homes, and more.
How to Pay for Substance Addiction Treatment in Elkhart, Indiana
Private Insurance
Every insurance provider is required by law to cover substance abuse and mental health treatment services, to some extent. Indiana residents must contact their provider to learn more about specific coverage, including deductibles and copays.
Indiana Medicaid
Indiana Medicaid consists of multiple programs. Each program serves a different population, but the common theme is to provide services for low-income or under-resourced Indiana residents, including rehab treatment. The programs include:4
- Healthy Indiana Plan
- Hoosier Care Connect
- Hoosier Healthwise
- HoosierRx
- Medicare Savings Program
- Pharmacy Benefits
- Traditional Medicaid
- Indiana Medicaid Covered Services
Indiana Medicare
Indiana Medicare is a government program that provides health-cost coverage for residents who are over age 65 or have certain disabilities. Indiana residents can use Medicare to pay for drug addiction treatment services, including rehab. However, not all rehab facilities accept this form of payment.
Sliding Scale Rehabs
Some rehab programs in Indiana charge for treatment on a sliding scale, meaning participants only pay what they can afford based on income. These sliding-scale options are not always widely advertised, so Indiana residents should ask if they are available.
TRICARE in Indiana
Indiana TRICARE (North region) is a government program providing health insurance coverage to U.S. Armed Forces military personnel, veterans, and their dependents. This coverage includes addiction treatment services, such as rehab.
IHS-Funded Drug Rehabs
Indian Health Service (HIS) is a program that provides free addiction treatment to Indigenous people and Alaskan Natives. These Indiana residents can obtain free treatment even if other coverage is available.
Getting to and Around Elkhart, Indiana
Whether you’re planning to get help for your addiction in Elkhart or are visiting someone staying at a treatment center there, you’ll need to know what to expect from the city.
Here’s a quick travel guide to get you started:
- South Bend Regional Airport is the closest domestic airport, and Fort Wayne International Airport is the closest international airport.
- There are plenty of hotels within and surrounding Elkhart to suit all budgets and needs.
- The Interurban Trolley serves the general public as a fixed-route bus route providing public transportation throughout major points of commerce between Elkhart and Goshen.
- Uber and Lyft are also easy to come by in the city, as are traditional taxi services and rental car services.
- Only certain areas of Elkhart are considered walkable, including Downtown Elkhart. If you’re planning certain activities or staying far from the treatment center, you’ll need to arrange for transportation.
- The top attractions in Elkhart include the Ruthmere, RV/MH Hall of Fame and Museum, the Wellfield Botanical Gardens, Linton’s Enchanted Gardens, and the Hall of Heroes Superheroes Museum.
Indiana Alcohol and Drug Laws
Indiana lawmakers have enacted the following policies related to substance misuse and overdoses1,2,3,4
Indiana Lifeline Law: This policy provides immunity for the crimes of minor possession, minor consumption, minor transport, and public intoxication for Indiana residents who reveal themselves to law enforcement while seeking medical assistance for a person suffering from an alcohol-related health emergency.
Social Host Liability: Indiana residents can be held liable if they give alcohol to someone they knew was already intoxicated and that person’s intoxication leads to injuries, damage, or death. It is also illegal to knowingly provide a place for minors to drink alcohol in Indiana.
Drinking in Public: In Indiana, it is illegal to be drunk in a public place if your behavior is dangerous, alarming, disruptive, or annoying. It is also illegal to be drunk or high on public transportation or at bus stations and airports.
Involuntary Commitment: Indiana Code 12-23-11.1-1 states that an Indiana resident who is a drug abuser, alcoholic, or incapacitated by alcohol may be involuntarily committed, except for those who are charged with or convicted of an offense that makes them ineligible for treatment.
Good Samaritan and Naloxone Access Law: his combined law is designed to prevent overdose deaths. The Good Samaritan protections provide limited criminal immunity for controlled substance and drug paraphernalia possession for Indiana residents who seek help in the event of an overdose.
This immunity is limited to those who call for help and not the person experiencing the overdose. Immunity is also limited to those who have obtained naloxone through the channels outlined in this law, which allows pharmacies and health professionals to provide naloxone directly or by standing order to those at risk of opioid-related overdose and those who are in a position to assist individuals at risk of overdose.
Resources
- The Elkhart Truth. (2022, March 22). New Spate of Drug Overdoses Reported in Elkhart.
- Elkhart County. (2022). Community Health Assessment.
- Indiana Department of Health. (n.d.). Indiana Drug Overdose Dashboard: Elkhart County.