Connersville is a small city located in a rural and somewhat isolated region of eastern Indiana. Serving as the county seat of Fayette County, Connersville has historically been a manufacturing economy and the only incorporated city in the area. However, the city has been plagued in recent years by economic difficulties, fueled by the exodus of several large manufacturers. In 2014, Connersville nearly declared bankruptcy, though it has managed to narrowly avoid this issue in the years since.
The unstable local economy has made life difficult for the 11,955 residents of the city, leading to a steady decline in population over the last three decades. As of the latest census, Connersville recorded a median household income of $50,810, more than $15,000 below the state median. Moreover, the city has a poverty rate of 16.4%, compared to a rate of 12.6% statewide. [1] These economic issues have only exacerbated the ongoing substance abuse crisis in Connersville and the rest of Fayette County.
Even though Connersville and Fayette County are not densely populated, there is a high number of fatal and non-fatal overdoses in the region. While the latest data may indicate that the situation is improving, dozens of families in Connersville still fight substance abuse every single day. Based on the most recent data, meth and heroin are among the most commonly abused drugs in Connersville, though alcohol, marijuana, prescription opioids, and cocaine are not far behind.
Continue reading to learn about substance abuse and addiction in Connersville, Indiana. And remember, if you or a loved one are fighting addiction in Connersville or the surrounding area, you can always reach out to Addiction Rehab Centers for help.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Connersville
Connersville lacks the financial resources to manage its own substance abuse data. However, it is not just the lack of city funds that has contributed to this situation. The vast majority of cities in Indiana rely on the county and state to collect, aggregate, and analyze substance abuse data related to overdoses, fatalities, and arrests. This means that the data for Connersville is combined with the data from other parts of the county. However, Connersville accounts for just over half of the county population, and it’s estimated that more than 75% of all substance abuse cases recorded in Fayette County originate in the city of Connersville. Consequently, analyzing county-level data is one of the best ways to evaluate the state of substance abuse in Connersville.
Fatal overdoses are perhaps the most tragic result of addiction, and the figures in Fayette County are distressing, to say the least. Even though it is fairly rural and far removed from more urban cities, Connersville experiences an influx of illicit drugs from neighboring counties and townships. As a result, overdose deaths have been consistently high in Fayette County 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 | 16 | N/A |
2017 | 19 | Increased by 18.8% |
2018 | 15 | Decreased by 21.1% |
2019 | 21 | Increased by 40.0% |
2020 | 21 | Increased by 0.0% |
2021 | 19 | Decreased by 9.5% |
2022 | 14 | Decreased by 26.3% |
*2023 | 12 | Decreased by 14.3% |
*Data for 2023 is provisional and only accounts for the first half of the year.
That data for 2023 is still provisional, so it’s unclear if the decline in deaths recorded in 2022 will continue. However, overdose deaths in Fayette County followed a similar trend as they did in the rest of Indiana. Deaths spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic before subsiding once again. Despite the recent decline in deaths, however, the number of annual overdose deaths is still very high in Fayette County, especially considering that the county has a total population of just 23,398.
Needless to say, deaths do not provide a completely accurate picture of substance abuse in a given area. In fact, non-fatal overdoses are generally a better indicator of the severity of a substance abuse crisis, and how substance abuse can evolve over time. This is because far more people are admitted to hospitals or emergency departments due to overdoses who survive the experience. The table below shows the relevant overdose data in Morgan County between 2016 and 2023: [3]
Year | Total Hospital Discharges & Emergency Department Visits | % Change From Previous Year |
2016 | 113 | N/A |
2017 | 147 | Increased by 30.1% |
2018 | 70 | Decreased by 52.4% |
2019 | 49 | Decreased by 30.0% |
2020 | 89 | Increased by 81.6% |
2021 | 74 | Decreased by 16.9% |
2022 | 92 | Increased by 24.3% |
*2023 | 66 | Decreased by 28.3% |
*Data for 2023 is provisional and only accounts for the first half of the year.
Non-fatal overdoses peaked in Fayette County in 2017, with an astounding 147 recorded cases. Overdoses were cut in half the following year, and then decreased again in 2019. During the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, overdoses increased once again. This is a trend that has been recorded in most counties throughout Indiana. The data is not finalized for 2023, but considering that the number of overdoses in 2022 was quite high, this could be a sign that the substance abuse crisis is not subsiding in Connersville and Fayette County — it may actually be getting worse.
It’s also important to consider how fatal and non-fatal overdoses compare from year to year. For example, in 2016, fatal overdoses accounted for 12.4% of all overdoses recorded in the county. By 2022, this figure increased to 13.2%. Though this is a relatively small change, it could indicate that local clinics and emergency responders are struggling to prevent overdose deaths in more recent years.
Types of Substance Abuse in Connersville
In 2023, meth and heroin were the most abused drugs in Fayette County. Meth was the most abused drug by far (based on arrest and re-arrest records). However, arrests involving drug paraphernalia have also been quite high — and these arrests are most often associated with heroin possession and abuse. 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 Fayette County:
Year | Total Arrests | Alcohol | Cocaine | Marijuana | Meth | Opioid | Drug Paraphernalia |
2016 | 439 | 148 | 1 | 59 | 79 | 101 | 208 |
2017 | 461 | 121 | 6 | 80 | 155 | 96 | 319 |
2018 | 396 | 77 | 6 | 93 | 203 | 80 | 251 |
2019 | 337 | 59 | 3 | 71 | 206 | 83 | 185 |
2020 | 279 | 42 | 2 | 67 | 149 | 68 | 159 |
2021 | 314 | 73 | 5 | 47 | 192 | 71 | 168 |
2022 | 278 | 54 | 4 | 57 | 159 | 58 | 120 |
2023* | 227 | 35 | 7 | 28 | 103 | 33 | 75 |
2024* | 153 | 26 | 5 | 22 | 36 | 13 | 43 |
*Statistics for 2023 and 2024 are still preliminary and do not account for the entire calendar year(s).
Arrests in Fayette County have declined substantially since 2016, yet certain substances have seen a significant increase in abuse. For example, while alcohol arrests declined by 174% between 2016 and 2022, meth arrests increased by 101% over the same period. Much like alcohol arrests, marijuana and opioid arrests have declined over the years. Though the county has recorded fewer drug paraphernalia arrests since a peak in 2017, the statistic still remains consistently high in Fayette County. It’s important to note that paraphernalia arrests are most often associated with heroin abuse. Therefore, based on arrest and re-arrest records, meth and heroin still appear to be the most abused drugs in Connersville and Fayette County.
Connersville Substance Abuse Resources
Despite the prevalence and severity of substance abuse in Connersville, there are virtually no local resources to provide counseling or treatment for those struggling with addiction. This is partly due to the city’s economic instability. That said, many cities throughout the state of Indiana depend solely on county and state-level programs for support. In Fayette County, there are two primary programs aimed at reducing substance abuse: the Opioid Response Program and Syringe Exchange.
The Opioid Response Program is a localized effort to analyze opioid overdose data and work to reduce overdoses and deaths caused by prescription opioids, heroin, and synthetic opioids like fentanyl. The Syringe Exchange Program allows people to turn in needles and other drug paraphernalia without fear of punitive repercussions. Additionally, the program offers single-use supplies that help prevent the spread of blood-borne illnesses via needle sharing.
Connersville Drug Rehab & Alcohol Rehab
Connersville is a unique city that rests in the middle of an otherwise rural region of Indiana. While various cities throughout the state have rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic, Connersville continues to struggle economically. The city lacks funding to maintain programs to combat substance abuse, and the decline in jobs has led many residents to move elsewhere. These issues have only made the ever-increasing abuse of drugs and alcohol even worse for the people who have stayed in the area. Even the county doesn’t offer direct programs to help treat patients or guide people toward rehabilitation. As a result, many residents of Connersville feel alone in their battle against addiction.
Fortunately, if you or a loved one live in Connersville and are looking for addiction treatment options, Addiction Rehab Centers is just a phone call or an hour’s drive away. Located in Indianapolis, Addiction Rehab Centers offers the best detox and inpatient rehab treatment in all of Indiana. Supported by an expert staff and modern, comfortable facilities, we offer a wide range of treatment options and services to help you enter detox and go through your rehabilitation with peace of mind. We also ensure that you can continue to abstain from substance abuse via aftercare support and outpatient rehab. Additionally, we offer care and treatment for those struggling with co-occurring mental health disorders. 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.
