The city of Clinton, Indiana sits about 8 miles east of the state border with Illinois. It resides within the Clinton Township and is the largest city (by population) in Vermillion County. Clinton is perhaps best known for its origins in the 19th Century, when it was founded as a mining town and became the destination for thousands of Italian immigrants. Today, Clinton still celebrates its roots by holding The Little Italy Festival, which attracts tens of thousands of people every year.
Despite the fun and festive atmosphere in Clinton, the city was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic downturn. With a population of just 4,821, the city has struggled with a surprisingly high percentage of substance abuse cases. This epidemic has struck many cities throughout Indiana, but it has been particularly hard on Clinton and the rest of Vermillion County.
Based on the most recent data, alcohol, marijuana, and meth are the three most commonly abused substances in Clinton, Indiana. 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 Clinton, Indiana. And remember, if you or a loved one are fighting addiction in Clinton or the surrounding area, you can always reach out to Addiction Rehab Centers for help.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Clinton
Vermillion County is among the smallest counties in Indiana, with a population of just 15,417. [1] This means that the city of Clinton accounts for nearly 1 out of every 3 Vermillion County residents. We compare these populations because cities in Indiana do not collect their own substance abuse data. Instead, counties collect data from all municipalities within their purview.
While this helps the state better analyze the “big picture” when it comes to substance abuse, it’s not as easy to get a granular view of substance abuse cases — like arrests, overdoses, and fatalities — at the local level. However, since Clinton makes up such a large percentage of Vermillion County, analyzing the county data sheds light on the state of substance abuse in Clinton alone. Nonetheless, it’s important to remember that the data outlined here includes all cities and towns in Vermillion County, though by some estimates, more than half of all the county’s substance abuse cases originate in the city of Clinton.
Analyzing fatal overdoses in a small population can be challenging. Like other small counties in Indiana, Vermillion County records relatively few fatal overdoses each year. However, it’s vital to consider this data, as it’s one of the most important factors that county and state administrators analyze when crafting initiatives to combat addiction. The table below shows how deaths involving all drugs (including alcohol) have changed in the county over the past few years. [2]
Year | Total Deaths | % Change From Previous Year |
2016 | 2 | N/A |
2017 | 7 | Increased by 250.0% |
2018 | 0 | N/A |
2019 | 5 | N/A |
2020 | 3 | Decreased by 40.0% |
2021 | 3 | Increased by 0.0% |
2022 | 2 | Decreased by 33.3% |
*2023 | 6 | N/A |
*2024 | <5 | N/A |
*Data for 2023 and 2024 is provisional and may be subject to change. The last date that data was collected was 09/04/2024.
With so few deaths recorded across the entire county, no clear pattern emerges based on fatal overdoses alone. In Vermillion County, fatal overdoses peaked in 2017 at 7 before declining to 0 fatal overdoses the following year. While the data for 2023 and 2024 is still provisional, fatal overdoses tripled from 2 to 6 between 2022 and 2023. It’s unclear what the finalized data for 2024 will look like, but based on the historically low number of deaths seen in Vermillion County, it stands to reason that fatal overdoses will likely not increase by a large margin in 2024 and 2025.
When evaluating substance abuse cases in small populations, it’s far easier to analyze non-fatal overdoses. This is because non-fatal overdoses are far more common than fatal overdoses. Additionally, the data is often more accurate, as it can be collected via hospital discharges and emergency department visits involving addictive substances. The table below shows the relevant overdose data in Vermillion County between 2016 and 2024: [3]
Year | Total Hospital Discharges & Emergency Department Visits | % Change From Previous Year |
2016 | 32 | N/A |
2017 | 39 | Increased by 21.9% |
2018 | 38 | Decreased by 2.6% |
2019 | 25 | Decreased by 34.2% |
2020 | 45 | Increased by 80.0% |
2021 | 40 | Decreased by 11.1% |
2022 | 41 | Increased by 2.5% |
*2023 | 32 | N/A |
*2024 | 7 | N/A |
*Data for 2023 and 2024 is provisional and may be subject to change. The last date that data was collected was 09/04/2024.
The data for non-fatal overdoses in Vermillion County aligns with the data we’ve seen coming out of many other counties in western Indiana. Non-fatal overdoses steadily increased between 2016 and 2022, peaking during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the data for 2023 and 2024 is still provisional, it indicates that non-fatal overdoses are declining from the peak reached in 2022.
It’s also important to analyze the correlation between fatal and non-fatal overdoses. In 2016, there were 34 total overdoses (fatal plus non-fatal) in Vermillion County. Only 2 of those overdoses were fatal, which equated to 5.8%. By 2022, Vermillion County recorded 43 total overdoses. Once again, only 2 were fatal, but it equated to 4.8%. This shows that the total number of overdoses is declining, as well as the rate of fatal overdoses. This could be a very positive sign for the future of Clinton and the rest of Vermillion County.
Types of Substance Abuse in Clinton
In 2023 and 2024, alcohol, marijuana, and meth were the three most abused substances in Vermillion County. Alcohol is the most-abused substance in Indiana, though it is slowly being surpassed in many counties by marijuana, meth, and both prescription and synthetic opioids. These trends are based on arrest and re-arrest data, which does not include cases where a person has broken no laws but continues to abuse addictive substances or cases where the person evades arrest. Nonetheless, the data provides a helpful overview of how substance abuse has evolved in Vermillion County.
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 Vermillion County:
Year | Total Arrests | Alcohol | Cocaine | Marijuana | Meth | Opioid | Drug Paraphernalia |
2016 | 240 | 118 | 0 | 79 | 75 | 10 | 93 |
2017 | 232 | 98 | 1 | 77 | 86 | 14 | 109 |
2018 | 248 | 91 | 1 | 68 | 103 | 10 | 73 |
2019 | 239 | 89 | 1 | 60 | 96 | 15 | 114 |
2020 | 182 | 74 | 2 | 55 | 81 | 5 | 94 |
2021 | 165 | 64 | 3 | 39 | 69 | 8 | 79 |
2022 | 78 | 38 | 2 | 22 | 29 | 3 | 31 |
2023* | 101 | 38 | 4 | 51 | 28 | 8 | 48 |
2024* | 87 | 37 | 3 | 33 | 28 | 0 | 40 |
*Statistics for 2023 and 2024 are still preliminary and do not account for the entire calendar year(s).
Arrests involving addictive substances declined substantially between 2016 and 2024. Over the same period, cocaine was the only substance involved in more arrests by 2024. However, cocaine is involved in very few total arrests in Vermillion County. Even though all substances saw declines in arrests, alcohol, marijuana, and meth remain the three substances most commonly involved in arrests. Opioids were more common in 2016, and though they saw a small resurgence in 2023, the provisional data for 2024 has yet to record a single opioid arrest. That said, drug paraphernalia arrests often involve opioids (namely heroin), as well as meth.
Clinton Substance Abuse Resources
The city of Clinton does not currently have any programs to combat substance abuse. Like most Indiana cities, Clinton depends on the county and state for support. Most of Vermillion County’s initiatives are punitive in nature and work to drive illicit drugs out of the county by punishing offenders. However, Vermillion County does have a Community Action Plan that aims to do the following: “The mission of the Local Coordinating Council for a Drug-Free Vermillion County is to reduce the prevalence of problems associated with alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use (ATOD). The healthy development of our citizens is being threatened by the problems and challenges of ATOD use.” [4]
In addition to its Community Action Plan, Vermillion County participates in 1 of the 7 state-approved programs to fight addiction: the LHD Naloxone Distribution Program. This program aims to educate the general public on the usage of Naloxone, a drug that works to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. The program also ensures that local health clinics and emergency response departments have adequate access to Naloxone.
Clinton Drug Rehab & Alcohol Rehab
Clinton may not be the biggest city in Indiana, but it has a rich and fascinating local culture. Sadly, the beauty of the city is overshadowed by the looming threat of a substance abuse crisis. With very few local programs to guide those in need toward recovery, many residents feel as though they have nowhere to turn for help.
Fortunately, if you or a loved one live in the town of Clinton, 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 is a top-tier detox and rehab facility. Our modern furnishings are designed to make you or your loved one feel as comfortable as possible while you recover with our experienced and compassionate staff. We even 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 needs 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.
