Jeffersonville, Indiana serves as the county seat of Clark County. It sits right across the border from Louisville, Kentucky, separated by the Ohio River and connected to the “River City” by the Big Four Bridge and the Clark Memorial Bridge. The picturesque riverside city is known for its public parks and many walking and biking paths. The city also boasts a population of 51,030, having doubled in size over the last three decades.
Jeffersonville’s economy lands very close to the state average, though it does get a substantial boost from its riverside location and proximity to Louisville. The median household income in Jeffersonville (sometimes just known as “Jeff”) is $67,566, which is slightly higher than the state median of $67,173. While poverty rates are high statewide, they are a bit lower in the city of Jeffersonville at 10.5% (compared to 12.6% in all of Indiana). [1]
There are many things to love about Jeffersonville, but it’s impossible to discuss Jeffersonville and the rest of Clark County without addressing the pervasive addiction crisis. Alcohol, marijuana, and meth are among the most commonly abused drugs, though prescription opioids, cocaine, and heroin are not far behind.
Continue reading to learn about substance abuse and addiction in Jeffersonville, Indiana. If you or a loved one are fighting addiction in Jeffersonville, you can always reach out to Addiction Rehab Centers for help.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Jeffersonville
Jeffersonville’s substance abuse data is collected at the county level, which means that all of Clark County is included in the available figures. That said, the city of Jeffersonville accounts for nearly half of Clark County, and a substantial number of its drug and alcohol related arrests, overdoses, and deaths originate in the city. This means that the county-level data also provides an accurate picture of addiction in Jeffersonville alone.
Using the data from Clark County, we can conclude that overdose deaths have risen steadily in Jeffersonville and the surrounding area. [2] The table below shows how deaths involving all drugs (including alcohol) have changed in the area over the past few years:
Year | Total Deaths | % Change From Previous Year |
2016 | 43 | N/A |
2017 | 40 | Decreased by 7.0% |
2018 | 51 | Increased by 27.5% |
2019 | 42 | Decreased by 17.6% |
2020 | 63 | Increased by 50.0% |
2021 | 67 | Increased by 6.3% |
2022 | 63 | Increased by 6.0% |
*2023 | 31 | Decreased by 50.8% |
*Data for 2023 is provisional and only accounts for the first quarter of the year.
Between 2016 and 2022, annual overdose deaths increased by 46.5%. This is largely on par with the rest of the state, but it still demonstrates the growing problem with substance abuse and addiction in Clark County. However, it’s also important to recognize that the height of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020, 2021, and 2022) saw a major spike in deaths. Since the data for 2023 is still provisional, it remains to be seen if alcohol and drug overdose deaths will return to their pre-COVID levels in Clark County.
Not all overdoses result in death. In fact, hundreds of people overdose every year in Clark County and survive. These cases can be seen in the number of hospital discharges involving overdoses recorded each year. The table below shows the hospital discharges involving drug overdoses in Clark County between 2016 and 2023: [3]
Year | Total Hospital Discharges | % Change From Previous Year |
2016 | 292 | N/A |
2017 | 309 | Increased by 5.8% |
2018 | 224 | Decreased by 27.5% |
2019 | 284 | Increased by 26.8% |
2020 | 375 | Increased by 32.0% |
2021 | 336 | Decreased by 10.4% |
2022 | 298 | Decreased by 11.3% |
*2023 | 103 | Decreased by 65.4% |
*Data for 2023 is provisional and only accounts for the first quarter of the year.
If you only look at the difference in hospital discharges in 2016 and 2022, it would appear that little has changed. However, there are substantial spikes and drops from year to year. For example, 2020 was the worst year in a decade with 375 hospital discharges. Once again, 2023’s data is still preliminary, but based on the data available for the preceding years, it seems that hospital discharges are declining from the peaks reached during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Types of Substance Abuse in Jeffersonville
As of 2023, alcohol, marijuana, meth, and heroin are the most commonly abused drugs in Jeffersonville. Here is the latest data from Indiana’s Next Level Recovery program showing the arrests involving different kinds of addictive substances between 2016 and 2023 in Clark County:
Year | Total Arrests | Alcohol | Cocaine | Marijuana | Meth | Opioid | Drug Paraphernalia |
2016 | 2178 | 1012 | 70 | 608 | 612 | 251 | 1056 |
2017 | 2178 | 925 | 50 | 526 | 642 | 237 | 1196 |
2018 | 2116 | 861 | 51 | 525 | 601 | 216 | 902 |
2019 | 2386 | 543 | 49 | 361 | 861 | 270 | 908 |
2020 | 1323 | 432 | 25 | 218 | 436 | 144 | 443 |
2021 | 1266 | 437 | 33 | 260 | 425 | 131 | 401 |
2022 | 698 | 215 | 12 | 166 | 206 | 49 | 248 |
2023* | 1103 | 407 | 18 | 175 | 295 | 60 | 289 |
*Statistics for 2023 are still preliminary and do not account for the entire calendar year.
As you can see from the table above, the total number of annual drug and alcohol arrests has declined since 2016. Between 2016 and 2022, arrests in every category declined dramatically. One anomaly is 2022, when Clark County saw just 698 total arrests, a little over half the number recorded in the previous year. However, 2023 has already seen arrests climb back up over 1000, and the total number of arrests could end up even higher once the data is finalized.
Jeffersonville Substance Abuse Resources
The city of Jeffersonville does not have any city-wide programs or initiatives to combat substance abuse. This is unfortunate considering how many arrests, overdoses, and deaths are recorded each year in the city. Fortunately, Clark County is among the most proactive counties in the state when it comes to substance abuse reduction. Jeffersonville residents have access to several programs managed at the county level, including:
- Overdose Fatality Review Team
- Naloxone first responder training
- Naloxone distribution
- IN CAREs ECHO
- Opioid Response Project
- Syringe exchange
Many of these programs and initiatives are focused on educating residents and emergency medical personnel on different aspects of substance abuse, as well as finding ways to combat widespread addiction. For example, the Overdose Fatality Review Team reviews county-wide data to see what changes can be made to reduce the risk of fatal overdoses in the future, while the Naloxone first responder training program helps teach first responders how to properly use Naloxone to save someone who is experiencing an opioid overdose. Both of these programs work in tandem with the increased Naloxone distribution program and the Opioid Response Project, the latter of which aims to reduce overdose spikes in individual communities.
The IN CAREs ECHO is a broader framework implemented throughout Indiana to help substance abuse experts connect and exchange knowledge to reduce deaths and address widespread factors that can worsen addiction. Lastly, the syringe program makes it easier for local residents to turn in their old syringes without fear of arrest. This is particularly effective at reducing the spread of blood-borne illnesses like HIV and TB among people already struggling with addiction.
Jeffersonville Drug Rehab & Alcohol Rehab
Jeffersonville, Indiana is a great place to live and raise a family. It has all the charm of a suburban community in southern Indiana, combined with the more urban appeal of a larger, riverside city. That said, the reality of substance abuse in Jeffersonville cannot be ignored. Clark County has various programs and resources to help reduce deaths and educate people on the dangers of substance abuse. Sadly, these have not proven wholly sufficient. As a result, many residents of Jeffersonville are in need of more direct and effective treatment options.
Fortunately, if you or a loved one live in Jeffersonville and are looking for addiction treatment, Addiction Rehab Centers is just a phone call away. Located in Indianapolis, Addiction Rehab Centers has a modern, comfortable, and discreet facility where you can detox and recover in peace. Whether you’re struggling with a meth addiction or fighting co-occurring depression and alcoholism, we have the expertise to see you through the entire recovery process and teach you the skills you need to stay sober for life. By reaching out to our team, you can begin your journey to a brighter tomorrow — free from the grip of addiction.
If you or a loved one need help, don’t hesitate to reach out as soon as possible. Addiction Rehab Centers is located in Indianapolis, Indiana. You can contact us on our website or call us directly at 844-551-4673.
