Fort Wayne is the largest city in northeastern Indiana and the second most populous city in the entire state, behind Indianapolis. Originally a series of forts built by the United States Army during the American Revolution, Fort Wayne developed into a full-fledged city in later years and continues its long-standing tradition as a hub for trade and commerce in the region.
Despite years of wealth and prosperity, Fort Wayne’s economy has stagnated in recent years. The city has a population of 267,927, 15.2% of whom fall below the poverty line. The median household income in Fort Wayne is just $58,233, compared to the statewide average of $67,173. [1] The city’s economic woes are partially attributable to slow recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic, but regardless of the underlying causes, these issues have only exacerbated the ongoing drug and alcohol abuse crisis in Fort Wayne. In recent years, the city has seen particularly high numbers of cases involving alcohol, cocaine, prescription opioids, and illicit drugs like marijuana, crystal meth, and heroin.
Continue reading to learn about substance abuse and addiction in Fort Wayne, Indiana. If you or a loved one are fighting addiction in Fort Wayne, you can always reach out to Addiction Rehab Centers for help.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne is a large city, but the most accurate figures related to substance abuse in the city are collected at the county level. Based on death records in Allen County, drug and alcohol abuse have increased substantially since 2016. [2] The table below shows how deaths involving all drugs (including alcohol) have changed over the past few years:
| Year | Total Deaths | % Change From Previous Year |
| 2016 | 74 | N/A |
| 2017 | 88 | Increase of 18.9% |
| 2018 | 85 | Decrease of 3.4% |
| 2019 | 112 | Increase of 31.8% |
| 2020 | 116 | Increase of 3.6% |
| 2021 | 151 | Increase of 30.2% |
| 2022 | 137 | Decrease of 9.3% |
| *2023 | 44 | Decrease of 67.9% |
*Data for 2023 is provisional and only accounts for the first quarter of the year.
As you can see from the table above, annual deaths resulting from any type of drug overdose increased by 85% between 2016 and 2022. Since the data for 2023 is still provisional, it’s impossible to know whether or not this upward trend will continue in Allen County as of this writing. That said, the drug overdose death rate peaked in 2021, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has since begun to decline. This trend has been seen in many other cities and counties throughout the state of Indiana. If it continues, we may see drug overdose deaths decline even further in 2023, 2024, and beyond.
To get a better idea of what substance abuse looks like in Fort Wayne and the rest of Allen County, it’s also important to look at the figures pertaining to people who overdosed and survived the experience. The table below shows the hospital discharges involving drug overdose in Allen County between 2016 and 2023: [3]
| Year | Total Hospital Discharges | % Change From Previous Year |
| 2016 | 713 | N/A |
| 2017 | 801 | Increase of 12.3% |
| 2018 | 698 | Decrease of 12.9% |
| 2019 | 678 | Decrease of 2.9% |
| 2020 | 766 | Increase of 13.0% |
| 2021 | 797 | Increase of 4.0% |
| 2022 | 725 | Decrease of 9.0% |
| *2023 | 360 | Decrease of 50.3% |
*Data for 2023 is provisional and only accounts for the first quarter of the year.
While drug overdose deaths have increased dramatically in Allen County, emergency room visits and discharges involving drug overdoses have not followed the same pattern. The worst year for hospital discharges was 2017, followed closely by 2021. However, there is no clear pattern showing that hospital discharges are increasing or decreasing. Over the entire 7-year period, total hospital discharges only increased by 1.6%. Nonetheless, when combined with the available data pertaining to overdose deaths, one can conclude that substance abuse has continued to increase, with more and more people experiencing deadly overdoses.
Types of Substance Abuse in Fort Wayne
As of 2023, alcohol, marijuana, and meth are the three most commonly abused substances in Fort Wayne. Here is the latest data from Indiana’s Next Level Recovery program showing the arrest data involving different kinds of addictive substances between 2016 and 2023 in Allan County:
Year | Total Arrests | Alcohol | Cocaine | Marijuana | Meth | Opioid | Drug Paraphernalia |
2016 | 5188 | 3555 | 401 | 1598 | 236 | 208 | 1345 |
2017 | 5901 | 3905 | 664 | 1953 | 241 | 217 | 1614 |
2018 | 6747 | 4208 | 577 | 2331 | 435 | 172 | 1961 |
2019 | 6939 | 3016 | 754 | 2548 | 847 | 284 | 2061 |
2020 | 4593 | 2110 | 563 | 1532 | 605 | 246 | 1280 |
2021 | 5438 | 2209 | 749 | 1801 | 944 | 481 | 1531 |
2022 | 4324 | 1886 | 646 | 1262 | 923 | 553 | 1246 |
2023* | 4840 | 1765 | 478 | 1,220 | 851 | 600 | 1257 |
*Statistics for 2023 are still preliminary and do not account for the entire calendar year.
While alcohol accounts for the largest percentage of arrests between 2016 and 2023, this figure has declined, while arrests involving other types of drug abuse or possession have increased over the same period. For example, cocaine arrests increased by 61%, meth arrests increased by 291%, and opioid arrests increased by 165.8% between 2016 and 2022. Total drug arrests have declined over this period (along with alcohol arrests), but arrests involving illicit substances like meth and opioids have risen dramatically. It’s also important to note that drug paraphernalia arrests have varied from year to year, and these can often be linked with a wide range of drugs, including crystal meth and heroin.
Fort Wayne Substance Abuse Resources
Fort Wayne is a very large city that has more resources to combat substance abuse than many smaller cities throughout Indiana. For example, the Family and Services Administration (which serves all of Allen County) offers various programs to help guide people with chronic addiction to the best recovery programs in the region. Allen County also offers specific programs to target opioid addiction. [4]
Additionally, Fort Wayne relies on programs managed by the county and state. While Allen County does not offer all of the available programs and initiatives that are available in Indiana, such as the non-syringe harm reduction program, it does offer the following initiatives to local residents:
- Overdose Fatality Review Team
- Naloxone first responder training
- Naloxone distribution
- Syringe exchange
All of these programs help to promote education on substance abuse and reduce the risk of death in the event of an overdose. For instance, the Overdose Fatality Review Team analyzes the latest overdose figures and works with other departments throughout the county to brainstorm initiatives to reduce overdoses and save lives. Naloxone distribution and training help reduce the risk of death in opioid overdoses, while syringe exchange reduces the risk of infectious diseases like HIV or Hepatitis C spreading through dirty needles.
Fort Wayne Drug Rehab & Alcohol Rehab
Fort Wayne is a bustling city that boasts a long and fascinating history dating all the way back to the American Revolution. While there are many reasons that Fort Wayne is a great place to live and raise a family, the city has struggled with economic difficulties and the ongoing addiction epidemic in recent years. Allen County provides various resources to help curb overdoses, but these have not stopped the addiction crisis at the source. As a result, the number of deaths caused by drug and alcohol overdose may continue to rise throughout the city and county.
Thankfully, if you or a loved one live in Fort Wayne and are looking for addiction treatment options, Addiction rehab Centers is just a phone call away in Indianapolis. At Addiction Rehab Centers, we offer a safe, comfortable environment in which to detox and rehabilitate from drugs and alcohol. Every person who walks through our doors is properly assessed so that we can work together to develop a personalized care plan and promote a full recovery. We also take co-occurring mental health issues into account so that we can treat both conditions at the same time, achieving better results in the long term. 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.
