Greenfield is a mid-sized city located directly east of central Indianapolis. The city is counted as part of the greater Indianapolis Metropolitan Area and it is just a half-hour drive from downtown Indianapolis (along Interstate 70). Since 1828, Greenfield has served as the county seat of Hancock County, and it continues to be a hub of commerce, with substantial operations from companies like Stanley Black & Decker and Avery Dennison.
The presence of large corporations has helped keep Greenfield’s economy afloat, despite the economic downturn during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The availability of jobs has helped boost population growth in Greenfield as well; the city grew from just 12,168 residents in 1990 to 25,920 in 2023, with few signs of slowing down. The city also outperforms more than half of the state of Indiana when it comes to household income. The median household income in Greenfield is $69,571 per year, compared to $67,173 statewide. The city’s poverty rate is also much lower — 5.9% in Greenfield and 12.6% across all of Indiana. [1]
Despite Greenfield’s enchanting historical districts, family-friendly neighborhoods, and strong local economy, the city continues to struggle with addiction. Every year, dozens of residents experience an overdose due to drug or alcohol abuse. Based on the most recent data, marijuana, meth, and heroin are among the most commonly abused drugs in Greencastle, though alcohol, prescription opioids, and cocaine are not far behind.
Continue reading to learn about substance abuse and addiction in Greenfield, Indiana. And remember, if you or a loved one are fighting addiction in Greenfield or the surrounding area, you can always reach out to Addiction Rehab Centers for help.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Greenfield
Greenfield makes up a large percentage of the total population of Hancock County — 31.2% of it, to be precise. This matters because Greenfield follows in the footsteps of most other mid-sized cities in Indiana insofar as it doesn’t manage its own substance abuse data. Instead, the city relies on Hancock County and the state of Indiana to track substance abuse cases, including overdoses, deaths, and even arrests related to substance abuse. This means that data collected at the county level includes relevant cases from Greenfield and other cities and towns in the area, like Cumberland and Fortville. However, since nearly 1 in 3 people in Hancock County reside in Greenfield, county-level data is highly reflective of the substance abuse situation in the city of Greenfield.
Hancock County doesn’t have the highest rate of overdose deaths in Indiana, especially when compared to nearby Marion County. Nonetheless, drug and alcohol-attributable deaths still occur every single year, and nearly half of them originate in Greenfield. While there was a significant spike in overdose deaths in 2020 and 2021 (the height of the COVID-19 pandemic), deaths have since returned to pre-pandemic levels, in spite of significant population growth. [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 | 12 | N/A |
2017 | 12 | Increased by 0.0% |
2018 | 20 | Increased by 66.7% |
2019 | 12 | Decreased by 40.0% |
2020 | 24 | Increased by 100.0% |
2021 | 24 | Increased by 0.0% |
2022 | 21 | Decreased by 12.5% |
*2023 | 12 | Decreased by 42.9% |
*Data for 2023 is provisional and only accounts for the first quarter of the year.
Overdose deaths doubled between 2019 and 2020, and they remained consistently high in 2022. However, when looking at the overall trend between 2016 and 2023, there was no real change. In both years, Hancock County recorded 12 overdose deaths. It is important to consider that 2023’s data is provisional and could be updated in the near future. Nonetheless, based on overdose deaths alone, it would seem that there has been little to no change in the severity of substance abuse in Hancock County. When considering that Greenfield and the rest of Hancock County saw an increase in population during these years, the rate of overdose deaths could even be in decline.
Overdose deaths are just one important metric used to evaluate trends in substance abuse. The majority of overdoses in Hancock County and the rest of Indiana are not fatal. These are recorded using hospital discharges and emergency department visits involving substance abuse. The table below shows the relevant overdose data in Hancock County between 2016 and 2023: [3]
Year | Total Hospital Discharges & Emergency Department Visits | % Change From Previous Year |
2016 | 200 | N/A |
2017 | 206 | Increased by 3.0% |
2018 | 206 | Increased by 0.0% |
2019 | 169 | Decreased by 18.0% |
2020 | 181 | Increased by 7.1% |
2021 | 259 | Increased by 43.1% |
2022 | 221 | Decreased by 14.7% |
*2023 | 106 | Decreased by 52.0% |
*Data for 2023 is provisional and only accounts for the first quarter of the year.
Like overdose deaths, non-fatal overdoses have remained relatively consistent over the past decade in Hancock County. The county saw a brief downward trend in 2019 and 2020, before cases rose to a peak of 259 in 2021. Between 2016 and 2022, Hancock County recorded an average annual increase of 10.5%. While there was a sharp decline in non-fatal overdoses between 2022 and 2023, the data for 2023 is still provisional. However, if the same trend continues, overdoses could be substantially reduced in 2024 and beyond.
Types of Substance Abuse in Greenfield
In 2022, marijuana, meth, and heroin were the most abused drugs in Hancock County. This is based on arrest and re-arrest data provided by local law enforcement. 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 Hancock County:
Year | Total Arrests | Alcohol | Cocaine | Marijuana | Meth | Opioid | Drug Paraphernalia |
2016 | 906 | 414 | 34 | 327 | 91 | 121 | 310 |
2017 | 1181 | 413 | 40 | 313 | 166 | 85 | 372 |
2018 | 1073 | 302 | 35 | 348 | 211 | 81 | 379 |
2019 | 899 | 185 | 52 | 424 | 292 | 82 | 387 |
2020 | 579 | 150 | 42 | 263 | 198 | 77 | 229 |
2021 | 468 | 105 | 38 | 158 | 152 | 48 | 190 |
2022 | 656 | 156 | 56 | 226 | 223 | 98 | 281 |
2023* | 475 | 104 | 25 | 132 | 111 | 43 | 130 |
*Statistics for 2023 are still preliminary and do not account for the entire calendar year.
As you can see from the table above, the total number of substance abuse arrests decreased by nearly 50% between 2016 and 2023. This same period also saw a substantial decline in alcohol, marijuana, opioid, and drug paraphernalia arrests. Cocaine arrests also declined, but only by a few. The only substance that saw increased prevalence was meth, and only by a relatively small margin. It’s important to note that drug paraphernalia arrests are most commonly linked with meth and heroin abuse, and while this figure has declined, it is now more common than any other type of substance-related arrest, with the exception of marijuana.
Greenfield Substance Abuse Resources
Greenfield has various local programs aimed at combating addiction and reducing substance abuse overdose fatalities. One of the largest programs is Neighborhoods Against Substance Abuse (NASA), which hosts town hall meetings and workshops primarily aimed at younger residents. Research indicated that there has been a rise in alcohol consumption among teenagers in the city, so many of NASA’s programs are specifically aimed at educating younger residents on the dangers of binge drinking and alcoholism.
In addition to Neighborhoods Against Substance Abuse, Greenfield relies on county and state-level programs for assistance. Hancock County engages in several initiatives managed at the state level. For example, Hancock County participates in programs to help distribute Naloxone, which is used to save lives during opioid overdoses. The program also helps train first responders to use Naloxone more effectively and reduce errors during emergency situations. Lastly, Hancock County is a participant in Indiana’s Non-Syringe Harm Reduction Program, which provides single-use supplies that can prevent the spread of blood-borne illnesses (like HIV) via dirty needles.
Greenfield Drug Rehab & Alcohol Rehab
Greenfield is a prominent city on the outskirts of Indianapolis, and it serves as a major economic player in the region. Despite its growth and the strong sense of community, Greenfield has struggled with substance abuse for years. While there is some hope that overdoses could be declining, the proliferation of opioids and other street drugs is making it increasingly difficult to keep addictive substances out of the hands of younger residents. And though there are programs to educate Greenfield residents on the dangers of substance abuse, there are few local resources to help guide individuals through the recovery process. This leaves many individuals feeling alone and unsupported.
Fortunately, if you or a loved one live in Greenfield and are looking for addiction treatment options, Addiction Rehab Centers is just a phone call or a half-hour drive away. Located in Indianapolis, Addiction Rehab Centers has experienced staff and modern facilities to accommodate individuals at every stage of addiction and recovery. We provide detox care, as well as therapeutic rehabilitation and aftercare. Additionally, if you’re struggling with depression, anxiety, or other co-occurring mental health disorders, we can treat these issues simultaneously. 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 866-338-5036.
