Frankfort is a fascinating little city that lies along U.S. Interstate 421, and it serves as the meeting point of several major highways, including Highway 28, 39, and 75. Less than an hour’s drive northwest of downtown Indianapolis, Frankfort is perhaps best known for Old Stoney, a Romanesque-style building that served as the local high school for many years. Today, the late 19th-century building serves various administrative purposes, but it also stands as a local landmark and point of interest for visitors.
As of 2023, Frankfort boasts a population of 16,409. While the small city has seen some minor growth over the past few decades, the population has remained relatively constant in recent years. Thanks to its geographic location, Frankfort serves as a crossroads in Central Indiana. This has helped bolster the local economy without greatly increasing the cost of living. As a result, the people of Frankfort, Indiana are able to enjoy a quiet, peaceful, and relatively affordable way of life.
However, this is not to say that Frankfort is without its problems. The median household income in Frankfort is $49,821, which is well below the state median. Fortunately, housing and rental costs are also lower than state averages. Additionally, Frankfort has a slightly lower poverty rate than the rest of Indiana — 11.0% compared to 12.6% statewide. [1]
While Frankfort has remained steadfast, even while dealing with the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, one issue has flourished in the region: substance abuse. Addiction to drugs and alcohol has been prevalent in Frankfort and the rest of Clinton County for years. Overdose deaths are on the rise, and the availability of street drugs in the greater Indianapolis Metropolitan Area has negatively impacted people who are already struggling in the city of Frankfort. Based on the most recent data, alcohol and meth are among the most commonly abused drugs in Frankfort, though marijuana, prescription opioids, heroin, and cocaine are not far behind.
Continue reading to learn about substance abuse and addiction in Frankfort, Indiana. And remember, if you or a loved one are fighting addiction in Frankfort or the surrounding area, you can always reach out to Addiction Rehab Centers for help.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Frankfort
Like nearly all cities in Indiana, Frankfort depends on county administrators to collect and manage substance abuse data. Frankfort serves as the county seat of Clinton County and the city makes up about half of the county’s entire population. However, substance abuse cases recorded at the county level include cases occurring outside Frankfort, in cities like Colfax and Mulberry. This means that it’s difficult to precisely calculate how many people are abusing drugs and alcohol within Frankfort. That said, Frankfort is the largest city in the county by far, and based on data compiled from local coroner’s reports, at least 70% of the substance abuse cases that occur in Clinton County originate in the city of Frankfort. For this reason, evaluating county-level data can provide a useful framework for evaluating the substance abuse crisis in Frankfort alone.
Overdose deaths are usually the first metric used to measure the severity of a substance abuse crisis or epidemic. If large numbers of people are abusing drugs and alcohol heavily, and they are losing their lives as a result, it indicates that the crisis is severe. This is why we evaluate this metric first. In Clinton County, overdose deaths have been on the rise nearly every year since 2016. [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 | 5 | N/A |
2017 | 6 | Increased by 20.0% |
2018 | 10 | Increased by 66.7% |
2019 | 9 | Decreased by 10.0% |
2020 | 12 | Increased by 33.3% |
2021 | 12 | Increased by 0.0% |
2022 | 17 | Increased by 41.7% |
*2023 | 5 | Decreased by 70.6% |
*Data for 2023 is provisional and only accounts for the first half of the year.
The table above shows that, between 2016 and 2022, the number of annual overdose deaths more than tripled in Clinton County. Though many counties saw an increase in overdose deaths during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Clinton County was already recording increasing numbers of deaths prior to 2020. It is important to point out that the data for 2023 is still provisional. If the finalized data remains close to where it currently stands, this could mean that Clinton County is experiencing a major breakthrough in overdose death prevention. However, it is still too early to draw a firm conclusion.
These numbers may not seem that high, but compared to the total county population (32,730), they are higher than usual. In any case, it’s important to also look at non-fatal overdoses, especially since these tend to be far more common. While not all non-fatal overdoses are officially on record, many are recorded thanks to emergency response departments and hospital discharge data. Unlike overdose deaths, non-fatal overdoses in Frankfort and the rest of Clinton County have declined slightly since 2016. The table below shows the relevant overdose data in Clinton County between 2016 and 2023: [3]
Year | Total Hospital Discharges & Emergency Department Visits | % Change From Previous Year |
2016 | 126 | N/A |
2017 | 121 | Decreased by 4.0% |
2018 | 102 | Decreased by 15.7% |
2019 | 112 | Increased by 9.8% |
2020 | 95 | Decreased by 15.2% |
2021 | 123 | Increased by 29.5% |
2022 | 101 | Decreased by 17.9% |
*2023 | 55 | Decreased by 45.5% |
*Data for 2023 is provisional and only accounts for the first half of the year.
Once again, Clinton County was already recording high numbers of total overdoses (fatal and non-fatal) prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Surprisingly, non-fatal overdoses declined by approximately 19.8% between 2016 and 2022. The data for 2023 is still provisional, but it could indicate even fewer non-fatal overdoses going forward.
This is certainly promising news at first glance. However, when aligned with the data for fatal overdoses, it paints a more troubling picture. If total overdoses are declining (or at least remaining constant), but fatal overdoses are increasing, it means that a higher percentage of overdoses are resulting in death.
For example, in 2016, 3.8% of all overdoses in Clinton County were fatal. By 2022, that percentage increased to 14.4%. This can happen for a variety of reasons. It could be that certain types of street drugs are becoming stronger and resulting in more deaths, or it could mean that local emergency response teams do not have the support and tools they need to prevent death during an overdose.
Types of Substance Abuse in Frankfort
In 2022, alcohol and meth were the most abused drugs in Clinton County. Since drug trends have changed over the years, it’s important to see what (if any) changes have occurred in Frankfort and Clinton County. There’s no one perfect metric to measure the types of substances that are being abused, but arrest and re-arrest records involving addictive substances are often the best place to start. Here is the latest data from Indiana’s Next Level Recovery program showing the arrests involving different kinds of addictive substances between 2016 and 2024 in Clinton County:
Year | Total Arrests | Alcohol | Cocaine | Marijuana | Meth | Opioid | Drug Paraphernalia |
2016 | 309 | 155 | 2 | 95 | 52 | 24 | 180 |
2017 | 394 | 159 | 12 | 100 | 78 | 25 | 205 |
2018 | 485 | 344 | 7 | 189 | 115 | 40 | 208 |
2019 | 483 | 157 | 4 | 141 | 198 | 49 | 309 |
2020 | 407 | 119 | 5 | 122 | 133 | 62 | 206 |
2021 | 313 | 129 | 2 | 66 | 136 | 28 | 170 |
2022 | 321 | 144 | 2 | 81 | 158 | 19 | 133 |
2023* | 460 | 189 | 6 | 110 | 215 | 30 | 131 |
2024* | 191 | 61 | 5 | 39 | 38 | 14 | 50 |
*Statistics for 2023 and 2024 are still preliminary and do not account for the entire calendar year(s).
Total arrests involving addictive substances fluctuated in Clinton County between 2016 and 2022. There’s no clear pattern to assess. However, there are clearer trends when looking at specific substances and types of arrests. For example, cocaine is not commonly abused in Clinton County. Alternatively, alcohol and meth are heavily abused, and the latter has been much more prevalent in recent years. Marijuana and drug paraphernalia arrests are much more common, though both appear to be in decline.
It’s also important to note that, despite the data being provisional for 2023 and 2024, 2023 was the second worst year since 2016 for drug or alcohol-related arrests. The data for 2024 is still very lacking, so it’s unclear if this upward tick in arrests will continue in Clinton County for the remainder of the year.
Frankfort Substance Abuse Resources
On its own, the city of Frankfort does not have any programs or initiatives to combat substance abuse. However, this is not to say that the city does not work to reduce addiction and prevent overdose deaths. For example, the city is working with Clinton County to properly disperse the $1 million provided by Indiana’s Opioid Settlement funding. [4] Unfortunately, most cities like Frankfort depend on the county and state for support in fighting substance abuse. While some funding is provided by the state, Clinton County does not participate in any of the state’s 7 primary substance abuse initiatives.
Frankfort Drug Rehab & Alcohol Rehab
Despite its relatively small size, Frankfort is a bustling little city with a lot of charm and history. Many visitors have likely passed through the beautiful streets of Frankfort, given its prime location on the route between Indianapolis and Lafayette. However, the people of Frankfort continue to struggle with substance abuse. Every year, people in Frankfurt and the rest of Clinton County perish as a direct result of addiction. Since there are very few local programs to help guide those in need toward treatment, many residents of Frankfort feel alone and helpless in their efforts to recover.
Fortunately, if you or a loved one live in Frankfort, Indiana, and are looking for addiction treatment options, Addiction Rehab Centers is just a phone call or a 50-minute drive away. Located in Indianapolis, Addiction Rehab Centers is a state-of-the-art inpatient rehab facility, offering services to help you at every step of the recovery process — from detoxing and withdrawal management to outpatient rehab and aftercare. Additionally, the staff of Addiction Rehab Centers specializes in the treatment of co-occurring mental health disorders. This means you can get clean and get treated for any co-occurring disorders simultaneously. 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.
