Columbus, Indiana is the county seat of Bartholomew County and is located about 45 minutes south of Indianapolis, just off of Interstate 65. The city is a hub of artistic and architectural innovation, something that has helped bolster tourism to the area for years. Since Columbus is the center of the Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area, which accounts for all of Bartholomew County, the population of the two districts is often merged into one. The population of the city alone is 51,268 and has been growing for decades, while the population of Columbus MSA is 82,218.
While tourism and city initiatives have helped keep the local economy growing, there is still a strong disparity of wealth and income in Columbus. The median household income is $75,114 (higher than Indiana’s median of $67,173), but the percentage of residents living below the poverty line is 12%. [1] This disparity makes it hard to evaluate the economic vitality of Columbus as a whole, though the growing population and rising wages do seem to indicate that it has recovered from both the 2008 recession and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite its status as an economic and cultural powerhouse in the region, the city of Columbus continues to struggle with substance abuse. This includes a wide range of substances, from alcohol and prescription drugs to cocaine and crystal meth.
Continue reading to learn about substance abuse and addiction in Columbus, Indiana. If you or a loved one are fighting addiction in Columbus, you can always reach out to Addiction Rehab Centers for help.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Columbus
According to the Indiana Commission to Combat Drug Abuse, the most worrying substances in Columbus and Bartholomew County are fentanyl, meth, and THC (marijuana). Local leaders have expressed concern about the rising abuse of marijuana and alcohol among younger residents in particular. [2] Rates of alcohol abuse across all age groups are relatively close to the state average, which is already high. 23.8% of adults in Indiana report binge drinking regularly. [3]
While physicians have made an effort in Columbus to reduce the number of opioid prescriptions in recent years, the average still remains higher in the city than in the rest of Indiana. As of Q4 of 2022, the city of Columbus saw an average of 215.4 opioid dispensations per 1,000 residents, compared to 175.6 in the state of Indiana. Over the same period, the county recorded the highest number of hydrocodone dispensations (6,073), followed by naloxone (4,566), tramadol (2,406), and oxycodone (1,570). Despite awareness campaigns to reduce the problem, prescription opioid abuse appears to be on the rise in the city of Columbus and Bartholomew County.
Hospitalizations and emergency room visits involving drug or alcohol overdoses have remained somewhat consistent in recent years, with only a few fluctuations. Between 2016 and 2022, the number of emergency room overdose visits dropped from 303 to 248, while the number of inpatient hospitalizations rose from 89 to 126 over the same period.
Drug overdose deaths are usually the most useful statistic when evaluating the severity of a substance abuse crisis. Unfortunately, the data coming out of Columbus is very limited. Bartholomew County recorded 14 overdose deaths in 2016 and 6 overdose deaths in 2023, though the statistics for 2023 are still provisional. Overdose death counts have not yet been provided to the Indiana Department of Health for any other years. [4]
As previously mentioned, the city of Columbus has a population of 58,335, while Bartholomew County boasts a population of 83,540. However, the Columbus MSA accounts for all of Bartholomew County, and nearly all of the cases recorded in the county originate in the city of Columbus. This makes it easier to know with greater certainty how many Columbus residents are abusing substances.
Types of Substance Abuse in Columbus
While alcohol and marijuana continue to be major contributors to substance abuse in Columbus, they have been outpaced by opioids, meth, and other illicit street drugs. Here is the latest data from Indiana’s Next Level Recovery program showing the arrest data involving different kinds of addictive substances between 2015 and 2023 in Bartholomew County: [5]
Year | Total Arrests | Alcohol | Cocaine | Marijuana | Meth | Opioid | Drug Paraphernalia |
2015 | 1,118 | 33.0% | 0.9% | 15.5% | 12.9% | 2.8% | 21.4% |
2016 | 1,371 | 26.8% | 0.2% | 13.2% | 14.7% | 5.8% | 23.8% |
2017 | 1,282 | 18.6% | 0.2% | 14.3% | 17.6% | 4.4% | 26.7% |
2018 | 1,421 | 18.9% | 1.0% | 13.6% | 19.0% | 4.1% | 26.4% |
2019 | 1,156 | 15.9% | 0.7% | 13.2% | 21.6% | 4.0% | 31.0% |
2020 | 893 | 19.6% | 0.9% | 14.9% | 21.0% | 4.4% | 28.9% |
2021 | 968 | 16.5% | 1.3% | 14.7% | 21.4% | 4.9% | 28.7% |
2022 | 707 | 19.2% | 1.2% | 12.0% | 21.7% | 6.3% | 28.1% |
2023* | 734 | 18.8% | 0.3% | 7.3% | 13.4% | 4.6% | 35.7% |
*Statistics for 2023 are still preliminary and do not account for the entire calendar year.
The one positive takeaway from the data above is that substance abuse arrests are in decline in Bartholomew County. However, the preliminary figures for 2023 indicate that they may be rising again. As you can see from the table, the percentage of arrests involving alcohol has declined drastically, from 33% in 2015 to 19.2% in 2022. Cocaine abuse is not very prevalent in Bartholomew County, though there were increased arrests involving cocaine during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like alcohol arrests, marijuana arrests have been in decline, while meth and opioid arrests have increased substantially.
It’s also extremely important to point out that drug paraphernalia arrests have increased a lot over the past 8 years. While this particular trend is difficult to analyze, it typically points to higher rates of illicit drug abuse involving drugs that require needles or similar paraphernalia, like heroin or meth.
Since these are arrests, it’s also important to remember that these do not account for all substance abuse cases in the district. Many people abuse drugs or alcohol without being arrested, but these figures still offer a glimpse into the current trends affecting Columbus, Indiana. Based on this data alone, it seems that meth, opioid, and potentially heroin abuse are on the rise.
Columbus Substance Abuse Resources
Columbus does not offer many of its own substance abuse resources to prevent and treat addiction. Columbus Regional Health does operate a voluntary outpatient treatment program in the area, but it has a long waiting list and does not offer detox or inpatient services. For this reason, Columbus relies on county and state-level programs.
Fortunately, Bartholomew County is one of the better counties in the state for substance abuse resources and programs. It currently takes part in all of the following initiatives:
- Overdose Fatality Review Team
- Naloxone distribution
- IN CAREs ECHO
Overdose Fatality Review Teams work across multiple departments and providers, from law enforcement to coroners, to see if individual overdose deaths could have been prevented. Essentially, the Bartholomew County review team analyzes potential shortfalls in its efforts to reduce overdose deaths and recommends changes to current procedures. Naloxone distribution is one of these processes that is vital for the survival of those struggling with opioid addiction. With easier access to naloxone, people can survive opioid overdoses that would have otherwise been fatal. Finally, the IN CAREs ECHO program seeks to help experts from across Indiana work more closely together to exchange information and come up with new and more effective measures to prevent and treat substance abuse.
Columbus Drug Rehab & Alcohol Rehab
Columbus is a beautiful city with awe-inspiring architecture, amazing art festivals, and a thriving local economy. It draws in thousands of visitors every year and is a great place to raise a family. Sadly, the proliferation of street drugs, and the continued abuse of alcohol and prescription opioids have put the residents of Columbus in a frightening situation. While there are some local resources to help stem the growing tide of substance abuse cases, many local residents feel lost and unsure where to turn for help.
Thankfully, you can get help from the trained professionals at Addiction Rehab Centers, which is located just 45 minutes north of Columbus. We can take you or a loved one through every step of the recovery process, from detox and inpatient rehab to outpatient programs and therapy. We have the knowledge and modern facilities to get you back on your feet. 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.
