Indiana is the image of clean-cut middle America to the rest of the world, and to a large degree statistics support this impression. Drug and alcohol abuse in Indiana tends generally to be below national averages, with one notable exception. Here in the land of basketball and other fiercely-contested sports, nonmedical use of pain relievers is well above the national average. Almost 10% of Indiana children in grades 8 through 12 admit to abusing over-the-counter medications at least once.

As in the rest of the country, young people tend to be more at risk for drug dependency in Indiana than those over 25 years of age. New threats are creeping in as well. The chart below shows the stealthy rise of methamphetamine, marijuana, and cocaine over the years, even as treatment rates for alcoholism drop.

This trend in admissions witnessed by Indiana drug and alcohol treatment centers is echoed nationwide. The number of people being treated for various types of substance abuse doubled between 1992 and 2006, but while alcohol-related admissions dropped from 40% to 23%, drug-related admissions shot up from 9% in 1992 to 29% in 2006. This disturbing trend means that even in Indiana, drug and alcohol rehabilitation could become a pressing issue for any family.

A comparison of adult and juvenile rates for drug abuse in Indiana reveals some disturbing differences and similarities:

Across the board, use of all types of illicit drugs is higher among young people, making them prime candidates at some point for intervention and treatment for alcohol or drug abuse. In Indiana, families can choose from any of 338 rehabilitation centers located in the state, of which 227 are private nonprofit, 94 are private for-profit, and the remaining 17 are administered by the State of Illinois. Families should be aware that not all facilities offer the same type of services and programs. Only 14% of drug and alcohol treatment centers in Indiana offer residential care, and only 15 provide opioid treatment. Anyone seeking treatment from a rehab facility in Indiana, therefore, should inquire as to whether it has the experience or the facilities to deal with their particular type of substance abuse problem.

Since abuse of prescription drugs is a particular problem in Indiana, experience with the newer painkillers should be a determining factor when choosing a drug treatment program to deal with an addiction to Oxycontin, hydrocodone, or any of a wide class of benzodiazepines currently prevalent in the state. These drugs create an extreme emotional dependency which can be among the most difficult addictions to treat. Evaluate local Indiana rehab centers carefully and expand the search if they do not offer the type of comprehensive treatment programs required to produce satisfactory long-term outcomes.