Brookville, Indiana is a town that falls within the greater Brookville Township. The area is best known for marking a prominent east-west fork in the Whitewater River. The town also holds great historical significance for Franklin County and the rest of southeastern Indiana. The town is populated by remnants of the Whitewater Canal that operated in the mid-19th century, as well as dozens of historical homes and buildings. It shares a southern border with Stavetown and is just a stone’s throw from Brookeville Lake and the larger nature reserves to the north.
As of the latest census, the town of Brookfield is home to 2,622 residents, while Brookville Township has a population of 5,728. Historically, Brookfield has served as a trading hub along the Whitewater River. Today, it enjoys a peaceful atmosphere, with easy access to beautiful hiking paths and other natural points of interest. It is a rural town with many inhabitants who have employment in more populous areas, namely Cincinnati, which is located just 45 minutes southeast of the town. The median household income in Brookville is $54,537, which falls well below the state median ($69,477), but it has a poverty rate of just 9.7% (compared to 12.3% statewide). [1]
Despite the cozy vibes of Brookville’s tranquil surroundings, there has been a dangerous and growing trend lurking just beneath the surface for years: substance abuse. Many small towns in Indiana struggle to fight addiction, particularly those that are more rural and lack amenities to keep youth away from drugs and alcohol. As a result, hundreds of people in Brookville grapple with substance abuse every single day.
Based on the most recent data, marijuana and alcohol are the most commonly abused substances in Brookville. The town also sees the abuse of other substances, such as meth, prescription opioids, cocaine, and heroin.
Continue reading to learn about substance abuse and addiction in Brookville, Indiana. And remember, if you or a loved one are fighting addiction in Brookville or the surrounding area, you can always reach out to Addiction Rehab Centers for help.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Brookville
Brookville is a small town with a population that has grown very little in the past few decades. As a result, the town doesn’t have the resources to maintain its own substance abuse data. Even the larger Brookville Township is smaller than most cities in the region and relies on Franklin County to collect and evaluate all substance abuse cases in the area. This makes it difficult to identify arrests, overdoses, and deaths that originate in Brookville, as opposed to other towns in Franklin County like Oldenburg and Laurel. That said, the town of Brookville accounts for roughly 10% of the county population, while Brookville Township accounts for more than 20%. Since it is the most populous municipality in the county, Brookeville also contributes the highest number of substance abuse cases to the county’s numbers. Consequently, evaluating the county data can help shed light on the addiction crisis in the town of Brookville.
Due to the small population in Franklin County (22,785), there are relatively few fatal overdoses in the area. However, it’s still a vital factor to consider when evaluating the prevalence of substance abuse in Brookville and the rest of the county. Despite somewhat high death counts before and during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, fatal overdose numbers have since subsided. [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 | 9 | N/A |
2017 | 4 | Decreased by 55.6% |
2018 | 12 | Increased by 200.0% |
2019 | 5 | Decreased by 58.3% |
2020 | 10 | Increased by 100.0% |
2021 | 9 | Decreased by 10.0% |
2022 | 3 | Decreased by 66.7% |
*2023 | <5 | N/A |
*2024 | <5 | N/A |
*Data for 2023 and 2024 is provisional and may be subject to change.
The worst year for fatal overdoses in Franklin County was 2018. The height of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 and 2021) also saw high figures, though not substantially higher than when the county first began publishing this data in 2016. Consequently, between 2016 and 2022 (the most recent year with finalized data), Franklin County saw a decline in fatal overdoses of 66.6%. The data for 2023 and 2024 is still provisional, though it appears that the number of deaths has not increased significantly since 2022.
Non-fatal overdoses provide a much more accurate picture of widespread substance abuse, particularly in areas where few overdose deaths have been recorded. The data for Franklin County has been extracted from cases recorded by hospitals and emergency departments operating in the area. The table below shows the relevant overdose data in Franklin County between 2016 and 2024: [3]
Year | Total Hospital Discharges & Emergency Department Visits | % Change From Previous Year |
2016 | 33 | N/A |
2017 | 30 | Decreased by 9.1% |
2018 | 23 | Decreased by 23.3% |
2019 | 17 | Decreased by 26.1% |
2020 | 28 | Increased by 64.7% |
2021 | 59 | Increased by 110.7% |
2022 | 44 | Decreased by 25.4% |
*2023 | 46 | N/A |
*2024 | 9 | N/A |
*Data for 2023 and 2024 is provisional and may be subject to change.
Though non-fatal overdoses declined in Franklin County between 2016 to 2019, cases began to rise again in the years after. The height of the COVID-19 pandemic saw some of the highest case numbers, peaking with 59 non-fatal overdoses in 2021. However, non-fatal overdoses have once again declined since the pandemic, though overall numbers have still increased since 2016. Between 2016 and 2022 (the most recent year with finalized data), non-fatal overdoses increased by 33.3%.
When looking at both fatal and non-fatal overdoses together, it’s evident that the rate of fatal overdoses is in decline. In 2016, there were a total of 42 overdoses on record in Franklin County. Of those overdoses, 9 resulted in deaths (21.4%). By 2022, total overdoses on record increased to 47, but only 3 resulted in deaths (6.3%). While it’s not a good sign that total overdose numbers are increasing, declining fatal overdose rates indicate that local efforts to reduce deaths (often involving opioids) are becoming more effective.
Types of Substance Abuse in Brookville
In 2023 and 2024, marijuana and alcohol were the most abused drugs in Franklin County. However, this is primarily based on arrest and re-arrest records, which help show patterns in substance abuse and what types of substances are being used (often at the same time) from year to year. Unfortunately, it is not an exact science, but it does help show what types of substances are more or less common than others in a given region. 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 Franklin County:
Year | Total Arrests | Alcohol | Cocaine | Marijuana | Meth | Opioid | Drug Paraphernalia |
2016 | 287 | 100 | 7 | 93 | 43 | 32 | 110 |
2017 | 209 | 71 | 1 | 74 | 39 | 6 | 65 |
2018 | 214 | 87 | 2 | 77 | 41 | 6 | 54 |
2019 | 230 | 100 | 0 | 82 | 49 | 5 | 78 |
2020 | 240 | 126 | 0 | 113 | 33 | 9 | 65 |
2021 | 213 | 76 | 0 | 104 | 40 | 7 | 50 |
2022 | 153 | 44 | 1 | 74 | 35 | 12 | 48 |
2023* | 139 | 45 | 0 | 63 | 27 | 2 | 43 |
2024* | 85 | 26 | 1 | 35 | 25 | 2 | 23 |
*Statistics for 2023 and 2024 are still preliminary and do not account for the entire calendar year(s).
Like most counties in southeastern Indiana, Franklin County has experienced a decline in arrests involving addictive substances since 2016. Between 2016 and 2022, total arrests declined by 46.6%. The figures declined even further in 2023 and 2024, but this data is still provisional and may change in the near future.
In addition to the total number of arrests declining, the usage of certain types of substances has changed over time in Franklin County. Alcohol and drug paraphernalia arrests have more than halved since 2016. The latter (drug paraphernalia) is often associated with heroin abuse, but it can also be linked to meth and other illicit substances. Cocaine and prescription opioid arrests are relatively uncommon in Franklin County and have generally declined further in recent years. Marijuana and meth are the only two substances that have remained relatively consistent in usage (based on arrest records) between 2016 and 2022.
Brookville Substance Abuse Resources
As a small town, Brookville doesn’t have the resources to fund programs to combat substance abuse. Instead, it relies on Franklin County and the state of Indiana. Franklin County offers some of its own programs and resources for residents, including a mental health center and the ADAMH board, which helps fund and operate crisis hotlines and assistance for those struggling with addiction. Additionally, the state of Indiana has 7 official substance abuse initiatives, of which Franklin County participates in 3:
- First Responder Naloxone Training
- LHD Naloxone Education
- Overdose Fatality Review Team
The First Responder Naloxone Training program ensures that local emergency departments and clinics have sufficient supplies to save patients experiencing opioid overdoses. Additionally, the program helps train first responders in the proper application of Naloxone, one of the most effective ways to reduce opioid overdose deaths. Similarly, the LHD Naloxone Education brings together a broad range of experts to help develop education programs so that regular citizens are aware of Naloxone and its life-saving benefits. Finally, the Overdose Fatality Review Team examines all of the available data related to substance abuse and recommends legislation and strategies to prevent new cases and reduce overdoses and deaths throughout the county.
Brookville Drug Rehab & Alcohol Rehab
Brookville is a beautiful town in the rural landscapes of southeastern Indiana and just a short drive from Cincinnati. Despite the picturesque surroundings, Brookville has really struggled with substance abuse and addiction in recent years. The proliferation of synthetic opioids, as well as increases in mental health crises during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, have contributed to an increasing number of overdoses in Brookville and the rest of Franklin County. While Franklin County has worked hard to reduce overdose death rates, there are very few local resources to guide those in need toward quality treatment centers. As a result, many residents of Brookville feel alone in their battle with substance abuse.
Fortunately, if you or a loved one live in Brookville, Indiana, and are looking for addiction treatment options, Addiction Rehab Centers is just a phone call or an hour-and-a-half drive away. Located in Indianapolis, Addiction Rehab Centers offers top-of-the-line facilities to help patients detox and rehabilitate in comfort. Our experienced staff can support you or a loved one during every step of the process, from the earliest days of withdrawal to inpatient and outpatient rehab, as well as aftercare support. We also specialize in dual-diagnosis treatments for co-occurring mental health disorders so that you can get the multi-faceted treatment you need, all in one place. 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.
