Fowler, Indiana, is a small town located in Center Township, along State Road 52. It functions as the county seat of Benton County and falls within the LaFayette Metropolitan Statistical Area. With a population of 2,349, Fowler accounts for roughly 26.5% of Benton County’s population (pop. 8,853). While the population of Fowler County has stayed relatively consistent over the past few decades, Benton County has seen an exodus, with a steady decline in population since 1971, when it reached a peak of 11,400.
In spite of this decline, the town of Fowler and the rest of Benton boast a strong economy, as the county has a large land area dedicated to agriculture, making it a major provider of crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat. The median household income in Benton County is $61,811, which falls below the state median, but is relatively high when compared to the low cost of living. Moreover, the county has a poverty rate of just 9.9%, compared to 12.3% statewide. [1]
While this fundamental strength has allowed the region to flourish, addiction has taken hold in many parts of the county, particularly the town of Fowler. Based on the most recent data, marijuana, alcohol, and meth are the most commonly abused substances in Fowler, 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 Fowler, Indiana. And remember, if you or a loved one is fighting addiction in Fowler or the surrounding area, you can always reach out to Addiction Rehab Centers for help.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Fowler
Like all towns of its size in Indiana, Fowler does not collect its own substance abuse data. This responsibility is given to county administrators, who collect arrest, overdose, and fatality statistics from all towns, townships, districts, and municipalities within their borders. Though this makes it easier for the state of Indiana to evaluate the severity of substance abuse across larger populations, it makes it harder to detect the origin of substance abuse cases within a given county.
For example, substance abuse cases originating in Fowler are compiled with cases from other nearby towns in Benton County, like Oxford and Boswell. That said, Fowler accounts for more than 1 in 4 Benton residents, and data from local law enforcement indicates that Fowler contributes an overwhelming majority of substance abuse cases to the county totals. Consequently, evaluating the county-level data provides a highly accurate picture of the substance abuse epidemic in the town of Fowler.
Fatal overdoses are always the first statistic we consider when studying an ongoing substance abuse epidemic. Not only do more deaths indicate a severe addiction crisis, but they also mean that local and county initiatives to reduce deaths have proven insufficient. At the same time, fatal overdoses in small populations are typically few, so this data must be used in tandem with other statistics for a more thorough evaluation. In the case of Fowler and the rest of Benton County, fatal overdoses have been so infrequent that the county has only recorded a few deaths since 2016.
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 | 1 | N/A |
2017 | 0 | N/A |
2018 | 0 | N/A |
2019 | 0 | N/A |
2020 | 1 | N/A |
2021 | 2 | Increased by 100.0% |
2022 | 1 | Decreased by 50.0% |
*2023 | <5 | N/A |
*2024 | N/A | 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.
As you can see, Benton County only recorded 5 fatal overdoses between 2016 and 2022. There were no fatal overdoses on record between 2017 and 2019, but 4 out of the 5 fatal overdoses were recorded during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This aligns with data we’ve seen coming out of many other counties in western Indiana.
It’s important to note that the data for 2023 and 2024 is still provisional. At least one death has been recorded in 2023, and the total number of fatal overdoses for that year was less than 5, but the county has not released official figures yet. Additionally, no figures have been released for 2024, so it would be impossible to conclude that fatal overdoses are increasing or decreasing from the upward trends seen during the pandemic.
Non-fatal overdoses are a far better metric for measuring the severity of a substance abuse epidemic in a sparsely populated area like Benton County. Compared to fatal overdoses, non-fatal overdoses are far more common in general, and this proved true for Fowler and the rest of Benton County as well. In many cases, non-fatal overdose data is also more accurate, as it can be collected via well-documented hospital discharges and emergency department visits involving addictive substances. The table below shows the relevant overdose data in Benton County between 2016 and 2024: [3]
Year | Total Hospital Discharges & Emergency Department Visits | % Change From Previous Year |
2016 | 16 | N/A |
2017 | 23 | Increased by 43.8% |
2018 | 27 | Increased by 17.4% |
2019 | 15 | Decreased by 44.4% |
2020 | 11 | Decreased by 26.7% |
2021 | 15 | Increased by 36.4% |
2022 | 17 | Increased by 13.3% |
*2023 | 22 | 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.
The data for non-fatal overdoses generally shows an upward trend in Benton County. Non-fatal overdoses increased each year from 2016 to 2018, before suddenly declining to just 15 in 2018 and 11 in 2020. Since 2020, the number of non-fatal overdoses has increased every year. Even 2023, which only has provisional data, shows the highest number of non-fatal overdoses on record at 22. It remains to be seen what the finalized data for 2022 will offer, but the low numbers recorded thus far might mean that non-fatal overdoses are once again in decline.
Typically, we compare fatal, non-fatal overdoses, and total overdoses (fatal plus non-fatal) to see how these different statistics correlate over time. However, there have been so few fatalities in Benton County that the comparison does not provide any conclusive evidence of an increase or decrease in fatality rates. For example, in 2016, Benton County recorded 17 total overdoses, of which 1 was fatal (5.8% of all overdoses). By 2022, the latest year with finalized data, Benton County recorded 18 total overdoses, of which 1 was fatal (5.5% of all overdoses). The lack of fatalities is a good sign for Fowler and the rest of Benton County, but the relatively high number of non-fatal overdoses still shows that residents are abusing drugs and alcohol — local authorities are just working hard to reduce fatalities.
Types of Substance Abuse in Fowler
In 2023 and 2024, marijuana, alcohol, and meth were the most abused substances in Benton County. Many counties in Indiana have had high rates of alcohol abuse in years’ past, only to see alcohol abuse decline and be replaced by other substances like meth, marijuana, and even heroin. We must note that these trends are based on arrest and re-arrest records involving addictive substances. These figures do not factor in cases where substances are being abused without crimes being committed or without any arrests on record.
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 Benton County:
Year | Total Arrests | Alcohol | Cocaine | Marijuana | Meth | Opioid | Drug Paraphernalia |
2016 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
2017 | 21 | 15 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
2018 | 41 | 20 | 2 | 16 | 12 | 1 | 20 |
2019 | 100 | 31 | 1 | 36 | 26 | 9 | 46 |
2020 | 124 | 41 | 2 | 43 | 27 | 8 | 62 |
2021 | 126 | 43 | 1 | 58 | 44 | 7 | 58 |
2022 | 109 | 51 | 2 | 36 | 34 | 3 | 34 |
2023* | 140 | 44 | 3 | 55 | 35 | 4 | 37 |
2024* | 74 | 14 | 3 | 38 | 13 | 1 | 30 |
*Statistics for 2023 and 2024 are still preliminary and do not account for the entire calendar year(s).
Between 2016 and 2021, Benton County recorded more total arrests involving addictive substances than the year prior. Most substances also saw increased prevalence, with many years indicating a high percentage of arrests involving more than one substance. Though the total number of arrests may be declining since 2021, the provisional data for 2023 still shows that arrests are on the rise.
Unlike many other Indiana counties that have seen a general decline in these types of arrests, Benton County saw a drastic increase. This could have been due to an increase in zero-tolerance initiatives from law enforcement, or simply an increase in the prevalence of various addictive substances. For example, alcohol arrests increased from a low of 4 in 2026 to a high of 51 in 2022. Similarly, marijuana arrests increased from a low of 1 in 2016 to a high of 55 in 2023 (finalized data still pending). Meth also saw a dramatic increase, with 0 arrests recorded in 2016 and a peak of 44 arrests recorded in 2021. Lastly, drug paraphernalia arrests also increased nearly every year with finalized data, and these arrests are most often linked to meth or heroin abuse.
Fowler Substance Abuse Resources
Fowler does not have any programs to combat substance abuse. This is standard protocol in Indiana. Like substance abuse data, substance abuse programs and initiatives are generally managed at the county and state levels. In Benton County’s Comprehensive Community Plan, it states that the county’s vision for substance abuse is “to improve the quality of life of individuals, families, and the Benton County Community as a whole.”
It goes further with its Mission Statement: “The mission of the Coalition for a Drug Free Benton County is to provide a forum for exchange of information related to tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs in Benton County. The Coalition comes together with the common goal of reducing the incidence, prevalence, costs, and consequences of alcohol and other drug use and abuse. Success of meeting these goals will improve the quality of life in individuals, families, and the Benton County Community as a whole.” [4] The state of Indiana also manages 7 programs to fight substance abuse, though Benton County does not participate in any of them.
Fowler Drug Rehab & Alcohol Rehab
Fowler is a strong agricultural town that has built a reputation as a safe and affordable place to live. While this is generally true, many people in Fowler and the rest of Benton County struggle every day under the weight of addiction. With so few local efforts to guide those in need toward recovery programs, many residents of Fowler feel as if they have nowhere to turn for help.
Fortunately, if you or a loved one lives in the town of Fowler, Indiana, and is 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 one of the top-rated rehabilitation facilities in the state and the region. Our expertly trained staff offers a wide range of services to help each patient develop a specific recovery plan that addresses their unique needs. We offer a comprehensive path to recovery — from detox and inpatient rehab to outpatient rehab and aftercare support. 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.
