Peru, Indiana is a small city located a little over an hour’s drive directly north of Indianapolis. It serves as the county seat of Miami County and is the only incorporated city in the area. As of the latest census, Peru had a population of approximately 11,073, which makes it about 10 times larger than the next most populated municipality in the county. The city of Peru also accounts for nearly one-third of the county’s population, making it a major part of the economy and culture in Miami County.
Perhaps best known as the winter headquarters of several major circuses in years past, Peru continues the tradition with an entire week of festivals and events every July. Unfortunately, much of Peru’s economic prosperity lies in the past. Most notably, the city experienced a devastating flood exacerbated by the Wabash River in 1913 that killed many local residents and wiped out a large number of homes and businesses. The city never fully recovered from the incident, and continues to struggle with economic instability to this day.
Just over 1 out of every 4 residents of Peru lives below the poverty line. This is more than double the average poverty rate in the state of Indiana. The median household income in Peru is estimated to be $44,665, which is 33.1% lower than the statewide median. [1] These economic woes were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, during which time the substance abuse crisis reached a fever pitch in Peru and the rest of Miami County.
Based on the most recent data, alcohol, marijuana, and meth are the most commonly abused drug by far in Peru. The city also sees the abuse of other addictive substances, such as prescription opioids, cocaine, and heroin.
Continue reading to learn about substance abuse and addiction in Peru, Indiana. And remember, if you or a loved one are fighting addiction in Peru or the surrounding area, you can always reach out to Addiction Rehab Centers for help.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Peru
As a small city, particularly one with a high poverty rate, Peru doesn’t have the resources to manage substance abuse on its own — nor does it have the responsibility. In the state of Indiana, the vast majority of towns and cities depend on county administrators to collect data related to drug or alcohol abuse, arrests, overdoses, and deaths. This means that data originating in Peru is mixed in with data coming out of nearby towns and municipalities like Bunker Hill and Converse.
However, since nearly one in every three Miami County residents lives in Peru, the county-level data is highly reflective of the data in the city of Peru. By some estimates, more than 60% of the overdoses recorded in Miami County can be attributed to Peru.
One of the most important metrics to consider when evaluating a widespread addiction crisis is fatal overdoses. Deaths caused by drug or alcohol abuse are tragic, but how these figures change from year to year can signal whether local and state efforts are working to prevent deaths. Sadly, Peru is a prime example of a city that is seeing more and more people succumb to addiction nearly every single year. [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 | 7 | N/A |
2017 | 5 | Decreased by 28.6% |
2018 | 5 | Increased by 0.0% |
2019 | 7 | Increased by 40.0% |
2020 | 8 | Increased by 14.3% |
2021 | 13 | Increased by 62.5% |
2022 | 17 | Increased by 30.8% |
*2023 | 5 | Decreased by 70.6% |
*Data for 2023 is provisional and only accounts for the first half of the year.
Between 2016 and 2022, annual overdose deaths increased by 142.8% in Miami County. While there was relatively little change between 2016 and 2020, fatal overdoses spiked in 2021 and 2022. This aligns with data we’ve seen from many other counties in Indiana. Like many states, Indiana saw increasing rates of substance abuse during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and more deaths as a result.
While there appears to be a significant decline in fatal overdoses from 2022 to 2023, the data for the latter year is still provisional and subject to change. That said, this decline could indicate that the high number of overdose deaths recorded in 2021 and 2022 was an anomaly directly linked to the pandemic. If the figures for 2023 (and 2024) don’t rise significantly in the near future, it could mean that fatal overdoses are returning to the lows seen in 2017 and 2018.
Contrary to popular belief, the majority of people who experience a drug or alcohol overdose actually survive. However, the risk of death increases with each subsequent overdose, which is why addiction can be such a dangerous battle. In any case, Miami County records a much higher number of non-fatal overdoses each year. For this reason, non-fatal overdoses provide a more accurate picture of substance abuse and addiction in the region. We’ve obtained this data from hospital discharges and emergency room visits involving addictive substances. The table below shows the relevant overdose data in Miami County between 2016 and 2023: [3]
Year | Total Hospital Discharges & Emergency Department Visits | % Change From Previous Year |
2016 | 121 | N/A |
2017 | 126 | Increased by 4.1% |
2018 | 76 | Decreased by 39.7% |
2019 | 58 | Decreased by 23.7% |
2020 | 79 | Increased by 36.2% |
2021 | 80 | Increased by 1.1% |
2022 | 85 | Increased by 6.3% |
*2023 | 49 | Decreased by 42.4% |
*Data for 2023 is provisional and only accounts for the first half of the year.
There’s an inverse correlation between fatal overdoses and non-fatal overdoses in Miami County over the past 8 years. From 2016 to 2022, Miami County recorded a decline in annual, non-fatal overdoses of 29.7%. The numbers declined even further in 2023, but once again, this data is still provisional and could change in the near future.
Based on the declining number of non-fatal overdoses, it would appear that fewer people in Peru and the rest of Miami County are abusing drugs. However, it’s important to look at non-fatal overdoses versus fatal overdoses to see how they relate to each other. In 2016, there were a total of 128 official overdoses on record, 7 of which were fatal. This means that roughly 5.4% of overdoses that occurred that year resulted in death. Fast forward to 2022 and the total number of overdoses on record declined to 102, 17 of which were fatal. This means that the rate of fatal overdoses as a percentage of total overdoses increased from 5.4% in 2016 to 16.6% in 2022.
What does this mean? It’s difficult to say with complete certainty, but it often means that local efforts to combat substance abuse deaths are becoming less effective. In this case, the rate of fatal overdoses more than tripled over a 7-year period. It could also be a result of more powerful drugs hitting the black market, including synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Only time will tell if the data for 2023 and 2024 will provide greater clarity on the future of overdoses in Peru and the rest of Miami County.
Types of Substance Abuse in Peru
In 2023 and 2024, alcohol, marijuana, and meth were the most abused drugs in Miami County. These statistics are mostly drawn from arrest and re-arrest records, which often shed light on the types of substances resulting in overdoses. However, these figures do not offer a complete picture, as many people abuse drugs and alcohol without getting arrested. In any case, 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 Miami County:
Year | Total Arrests | Alcohol | Cocaine | Marijuana | Meth | Opioid | Drug Paraphernalia |
2016 | 534 | 260 | 2 | 216 | 173 | 40 | 383 |
2017 | 492 | 298 | 24 | 195 | 126 | 24 | 345 |
2018 | 651 | 234 | 31 | 294 | 268 | 70 | 437 |
2019 | 475 | 154 | 19 | 192 | 238 | 43 | 259 |
2020 | 361 | 156 | 12 | 122 | 175 | 51 | 212 |
2021 | 562 | 202 | 10 | 154 | 246 | 66 | 301 |
2022 | 351 | 146 | 8 | 123 | 116 | 19 | 148 |
2023* | 189 | 45 | 0 | 64 | 94 | 5 | 79 |
2024* | 478 | 83 | 11 | 146 | 110 | 27 | 151 |
*Statistics for 2023 and 2024 are still preliminary and do not account for the entire calendar year(s).
Like most counties in Indiana, Miami County saw fewer arrests during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is partially due to the fact that the state initiated stay-at-home orders starting in 2020. However, the types of substances being abused also changed between 2016 and 2022. Alcohol still remains one of the most commonly abused substances, but alcohol arrests decreased drastically during this period. In fact, nearly all arrests involving addictive substances declined by 2022.
Though the data for 2023 and 2024 is not finalized, the brief respite from arrests following the pandemic seems to be over. Even though the data is preliminary, there has already been a significant spike in arrests between 2023 and 2024. Alcohol arrests nearly doubled, while marijuana arrests more than doubled. That said, there was a small decrease in meth and opioid arrests, as well as a larger decrease in drug paraphernalia arrests, which are most often linked to heroin and meth abuse.
Peru Substance Abuse Resources
Peru offers some resources on its city website to direct people toward informal recovery groups in the area. Otherwise, nearly all substance abuse resources and programs are managed at the county and state levels. This is very common in Indiana since the counties and states also collect and manage substance abuse data on behalf of towns and cities.
Since 2016, the Miami County Systems of Care has worked with Indiana’s Department of Mental Health and Addiction to ensure that local residents have access to the recovery resources they need. [4] Additionally, Miami County participates in 2 of the 7 state-approved initiatives to combat substance abuse: First Responder Naloxone Training and the Non-Syringe Harm Reduction Program. The former initiative helps train first responders on the proper application of Naloxone, a drug that greatly reduces the risk of death in the event of an opioid overdose, while the latter program provides single-use supplies to prevent the sharing of needles and the spread of blood-borne illnesses like HIV.
Peru Drug Rehab & Alcohol Rehab
Though it would be easy to attribute all of Peru’s addiction woes to economic hardship, it’s simply not the case. It’s true that high poverty rates have contributed to worsening mental health and addiction, but similar drug abuse stats have been recorded in cities and counties throughout Indiana — including some of the most affluent ones. Unfortunately, Peru lacks the resources to adequately fight substance abuse, which is why fatal overdoses are a growing problem in the city and the rest of Miami County. As a result, many residents feel as if they have nowhere to turn for help.
Fortunately, if you or a loved one live in Peru, Indiana, 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 is one of the top detox and rehab facilities in the state. We offer the most effective and innovative treatment methods to ensure that every person who walks through our doors can recover in peace and comfort. We also specialize in dual-diagnosis treatments for 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.
