Decatur, Indiana is a small city that lies on the border between the Root and Washington Townships in Adams County. The city functions as the county seat and is home to many manufacturing businesses that form the foundation of Adams County’s economy. It’s also just a 30-minute drive southeast of Fort Wayne and about 25 minutes west of the Ohio border. The population of 9,913 enjoys a stable economy with a low cost of living and a poverty rate of 10.4% — which falls below the state average of 12.3%.
In spite of Decatur’s growing population and strong manufacturing economy, it has struggled with several issues that have often exacerbated each other. Decatur is among the cities with the lowest percentage of high school and college graduates in the state of Indiana. 51.4% of Decatur residents have a high school diploma or equivalent degree (compared to roughly 88% statewide), and just 12.7% have a Bachelor’s Degree or higher (compared to 30.2% statewide). [1] Low graduation rates have fed into the growing prevalence of substance abuse, while increased instances of substance abuse among younger residents have also contributed to lower graduation rates. This vicious cycle is one that the city has struggled to address, as there are very few local programs to help guide youth away from drugs and alcohol.
Based on the most recent data, marijuana and alcohol are the most commonly abused substances in Decatur. The city 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 Decatur, Indiana. And remember, if you or a loved one are fighting addiction in Decatur or the surrounding area, you can always reach out to Addiction Rehab Centers for help.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Decatur
With less than 10,000 full-time residents (as of the latest census), Decatur is not large enough to collect or manage its own substance abuse data. However, population is not often a factor in determining which authorities collect this type of data in Indiana. Nearly every city relies on county administrators to aggregate all of the substance abuse cases coming out of towns and cities within their purview.
While this does help state legislators evaluate the “big picture” of substance abuse and addiction across Indiana, it makes it harder to evaluate the ongoing crises in individual cities like Decatur. For example, Adams County, which has a population of roughly 35,809, combines substance abuse cases from Decatur (pop. 9,913), Berne (pop. 4,173), and Geneva (pop. 1,293) — just to name a few.
However, Decatur is the largest city in the county by far, accounting for about 27.6% of the total population and over 40% of the total substance abuse cases. This makes county-level data extremely useful for studying the prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse in Decatur alone.
Fatal overdoses are not as common in Decatur as in larger cities like Fort Wayne, due in part to the small population. However, reviewing overdose death data over the years can help show if any patterns have emerged — namely if deaths have increased, decreased, or stayed the same over time. In Adams County, fatal overdoses increased since 2016, though numbers have varied from year to 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 | 3 | N/A |
2017 | 6 | Increased by 100.0% |
2018 | 3 | Decreased by 50.0% |
2019 | 8 | Increased by 166.7% |
2020 | 7 | Decreased by 12.5% |
2021 | 3 | Decreased by 57.1% |
2022 | 6 | Increased by 100.0% |
*2023 | 6 | N/A |
*2024 | <5 | N/A |
*Data for 2023 and 2024 is provisional and may be subject to change.
As you can see from the table above, fatal overdoses have not followed a straightforward pattern. 2016, 2018, and 2021 each recorded 3 deaths, the lowest overdose fatality rates on record in Adams County, while 2019 and 2020 recorded the highest at 8 and 7 deaths, respectively. Though it’s difficult to extract a clear pattern between 2016 and 2024, it’s important to note that overdose deaths have been on an upward trajectory since 2021. However, the data for 2023 and 2024 is still provisional, so it remains to be seen if the latest data will continue this upward trend.
Non-fatal overdoses are typically a more accurate barometer for measuring the severity of a substance abuse crisis, particularly in low-population areas like Decatur and the rest of Adams County. This data is also easier to obtain in many cases, as it is released directly from hospitals and emergency departments in the area. The table below shows the relevant overdose data in Adams County between 2016 and 2024: [3]
Year | Total Hospital Discharges & Emergency Department Visits | % Change From Previous Year |
2016 | 82 | N/A |
2017 | 60 | Decreased by 26.8% |
2018 | 60 | Increased by 0.0% |
2019 | 59 | Decreased by 1.7% |
2020 | 66 | Increased by 11.9% |
2021 | 57 | Decreased by 13.6% |
2022 | 40 | Decreased by 29.8% |
*2023 | 54 | N/A |
*2024 | 5 | N/A |
*Data for 2023 and 2024 is provisional and may be subject to change.
Between 2016 and 2022 (the most recent year with finalized data), annual non-fatal overdoses decreased by 51.2%. However, the preliminary data for 2023 shows a sudden increase of 35% from the previous year. It’s still too early to know if the non-fatal overdoses of 2024 will continue to rise from previous years, or if they will decline once again.
However, we can better examine the rate of overdose deaths (and how it has changed) by looking at the total number of overdoses from year to year. For example, in 2016, there were 85 overdoses (fatal and non-fatal) on record in Adams County. Just 3 of those overdoses were fatal, accounting for 3.5% of all overdoses. By 2022, the total number of overdoses declined to 46, with 6 fatal overdoses accounting for 13% of all overdoses. Though it is a good sign that total overdoses have generally been in decline since 2016, the increasing rate of fatal overdoses indicates that those who are abusing drugs and alcohol in Adams County are, statistically, at a much higher risk of death than ever before.
Types of Substance Abuse in Decatur
In 2023 and 2024, marijuana and alcohol were the most abused drugs in Adams County. We extracted this data from arrest and re-arrest records in the county, but we understand that these numbers do not perfectly reflect the real number of addiction cases. These simply show trends in the types of substances being abused, even if they don’t account for those who abuse drugs or alcohol and evade arrest or commit no crimes at all. 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 Adams County:
Year | Total Arrests | Alcohol | Cocaine | Marijuana | Meth | Opioid | Drug Paraphernalia |
2016 | 324 | 144 | 5 | 165 | 21 | 15 | 142 |
2017 | 382 | 167 | 14 | 144 | 22 | 33 | 112 |
2018 | 315 | 157 | 6 | 131 | 39 | 29 | 104 |
2019 | 381 | 143 | 8 | 151 | 92 | 30 | 176 |
2020 | 282 | 116 | 8 | 130 | 71 | 19 | 106 |
2021 | 236 | 57 | 7 | 126 | 56 | 19 | 93 |
2022 | 177 | 46 | 6 | 93 | 24 | 13 | 62 |
2023* | 139 | 50 | 5 | 68 | 18 | 9 | 51 |
2024* | 107 | 32 | 4 | 47 | 7 | 8 | 26 |
*Statistics for 2023 and 2024 are still preliminary and do not account for the entire calendar year(s).
Arrests involving addictive substances — from DUIs to possession of illicit drugs — declined between 2016 and 2022. Based on the data available for 2023 and 2024, they may continue to decline further as more time passes. Over the same period, alcohol, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia arrests all declined substantially. Despite these changes, alcohol and marijuana remain the two most commonly abused substances in Adams County. Between 2016 and 2022, cocaine, meth, and opioid arrests varied each year, and only saw modest changes over the entire period.
Decatur Substance Abuse Resources
Decatur, Indiana does not manage any substance abuse programs or resources to guide those in need toward recovery programs. Like most cities of its size in Indiana, it relies on county and state programs to provide support. Drug Free Adams County is a local program that promotes healthy lifestyles and educates youth and adults on the dangers of addiction. [4]
Additionally, while the state of Indiana offers 7 official initiatives to combat substance abuse, Adams County only participates in one: First Responder Naloxone Training. This program helps distribute life-saving supplies (Naloxone) to clinics and emergency departments in Decatur and other densely populated areas in Adams County. The program also ensures that first responders are adequately trained in the proper application of Naloxone to help reduce overdose deaths caused by opioids.
Decatur Drug Rehab & Alcohol Rehab
Decatur has kept its place as a strong manufacturing city and a small yet popular place to live outside of Fort Wayne. However, the threat of addiction has remained pervasive in the city of Decatur and Adams County. Every year, dozens of individuals overdose due to drugs, alcohol, or a combination of the two. While some statistics show that overdoses may be dropping, the rate of fatal overdoses continues to rise, partially due to the lack of local programs to fight back against substance abuse. The lack of local initiatives has left many Decatur residents feeling lost and unsure where to turn to get treatment.
Fortunately, if you or a loved one live in Decatur, Indiana, and are looking for addiction treatment options, Addiction Rehab Centers is just a phone call or a two-and-a-half-hour drive away. Located in Indianapolis, Addiction Rehab Centers is a modern, high-tech facility staffed with highly trained individuals who are tuned into the needs of patients struggling with addiction. We are here to help you every step of the way, starting with detox and continuing through inpatient and outpatient rehab, as well as aftercare support to ensure that you stay sober for good. We even specialize in dual-diagnosis treatments for co-occurring mental health disorders so that patients can get the multi-faceted treatment they 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.
