Drug & Alcohol Rehab For Carmel, Indiana

Carmel is a sprawling suburban city just north of Indianapolis. Located in Hamilton County, Carmel offers a unique blend of city, suburban, and rural living. It covers an area of roughly 49 square miles and has various natural attractions, including the Flowing Well Park and the White River to the east. With a population of 101,964, Carmel accounts for about one-third of Hamilton County and is one of the fastest-growing cities in the state. In fact, Carmel’s population has more than doubled over the last three decades.

One reason that Carmel attracts so many new residents is the booming local economy. It is one of the most prosperous suburbs of Indianapolis, with a median household income of $132,859 (nearly double the median household income in Indiana) and a poverty rate of just 3.6% (compared to a poverty rate of 12.6% statewide). [1] While Carmel may seem like the perfect place to live, some issues have been bubbling under the surface for years. More specifically, substance abuse is common in Carmel and the rest of Hamilton County. Alcohol, marijuana, and meth are among the most commonly abused drugs, though prescription opioids, cocaine, and heroin are not far behind.

Continue reading to learn about substance abuse and addiction in Carmel, Indiana. If you or a loved one are fighting addiction in Carmel, you can always reach out to Addiction Rehab Centers for help.

Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Carmel

Carmel adheres to the data collection system used throughout the state of Indiana, which relegates substance abuse cases to county-level administrators. As a result, the substance abuse cases in Carmel are generally lumped together with the cases occurring in other cities throughout Hamilton County. However, as the largest city in the county (followed by Fishers and Noblesville), Carmel has some of the highest rates of substance abuse in the area.

Based on death records in Hamilton County, drug and alcohol abuse reached a peak in Carmel during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. [2] The table below shows how deaths involving all drugs (including alcohol) have changed in the area over the past few years:

*Data for 2023 is provisional and only accounts for the first quarter of the year.

Between 2016 and 2022, annual overdose deaths increased by 55.5%. The data for 2023 is still provisional, so it’s not clear whether the high death rates seen during the COVID-19 pandemic have since been reduced. However, the low death count of 16 (so far) in 2023 could be a positive sign for the future.

Increasing overdose deaths strongly indicate that the substance abuse crisis is getting worse. However, deaths are not the only statistic that must be considered. Many people overdose and survive the experience, which is why it’s important to look at overdose hospital discharge data as well. The table below shows the hospital discharges involving drug overdoses in Hamilton County between 2016 and 2023: [3]

*Data for 2023 is provisional and only accounts for the first quarter of the year.

The city of Carmel and Hamilton County saw a spike in drug overdose hospital discharges in 2021 and 2022, like many other cities and states in Indiana. Otherwise, this statistic has largely been in decline since 2016. Once again, the numbers for 2023 are still provisional, but they could point to overdose rates that are rapidly declining.

Types of Substance Abuse in Carmel

As of 2023, alcohol and marijuana are the two most commonly abused drugs in Carmel. Here is the latest data from Indiana’s Next Level Recovery program showing the arrests involving different kinds of addictive substances between 2016 and 2023 in Hamilton County:

*Statistics for 2023 are still preliminary and do not account for the entire calendar year.

As you can see from the table above, total arrests have remained relatively constant between 2016 and 2022. Even accounting for 2023’s provisional data, it seems that Carmel and the rest of Hamilton County will continue to see similar arrest numbers from year to year. However, the types of substances involved in these arrests have changed a lot over time.

Between 2016 and 2023, the number of alcohol arrests declined by 31.2%, while cocaine arrests increased by 53.2%. Like alcohol, marijuana arrest numbers have been high for years, but they have declined by 41.1% since 2016. Opioid arrests have seen little change over the years, but meth arrests have increased by 50.6%, while drug paraphernalia arrests (typically associated with meth and heroin abuse) have decreased by 68.8%. This may indicate that many people in Carmel who abuse drugs have transitioned from legal substances like alcohol to illegal substances like meth and cocaine.

Carmel Substance Abuse Resources

The city of Carmel dedicates a page of its official website to the mental health and wellness of its residents. This page includes resources for crisis hotlines, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and substance use disorders in general, as well as related resources for domestic abuse and suicide prevention. However, the city does not have any specific initiatives or programs to deter substance abuse. Instead, it relies on programs managed at the county level, including:

• Overdose Fatality Review Team
• Naloxone first responder training
• Naloxone distribution

The Overdose Fatality Review Team reviews county-wide data to see what changes can be made to reduce the risk of fatal overdoses in the future. Naloxone training and distribution are more direct initiatives that specifically help prevent fatal opioid overdoses. While Hamilton County does not offer as many programs as many other counties throughout Indiana, it has historically done an excellent job of minimizing overdose deaths (based on the available data).

Carmel Drug Rehab & Alcohol Rehab

Carmel is an affluent city with a truly amazing blend of urban, suburban, and rural appeal. It is a beautiful place to live, work, and raise a family, but it is not without fault. The reality is that Carmel and the rest of Hamilton County have a serious addiction crisis. Even though the statistics seem to be moving in the right direction, local and state initiatives are not always enough to help those who are already struggling with a substance use disorder.

Fortunately, if you or a loved one live in Carmel and are looking for addiction treatment options, Addiction Rehab Centers is just a phone call or a 30-minute drive away. Located in Indianapolis, Addiction Rehab Centers is a modern, comfortable, and discreet facility where you can detox and recover in peace. You can focus on your recovery while also being monitored by trained substance abuse professionals. Plus, if a co-occurring mental disorder is making your recovery more challenging, we have the tools and resources to help you address addiction and any mental health issues at the same time. 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.