Nashville may not be the biggest town in southern Indiana, but it has certainly had a major impact on the region. Located about an hour south of Indianapolis, Nashville was officially incorporated as a town in 1872, and it remains the only incorporated town in Brown County, as well as the seat of the county. Despite its small size — Nashville boasts a population of just 1,256 as of the latest census — Nashville is a major center of art, music, and tourism.
In the early 20th century, prominent painters and various other artists moved to Nashville, Indiana, forming the Brown County Art Colony — a loose association of artists living and working in the same community. The colony still exists to this day, albeit in a slightly different form, as the Brown County Art Guild. Many of the founding artists’ paintings are displayed in local museums. Additionally, the town is known as a popular destination for musicians and country music enthusiasts, thanks in part to the nearby Brown County Music Center.
To make Nashville even more appealing to residents and visitors alike, it sits just on the border with the picturesque Brown County State Park. To accommodate the large number of annual visitors, Nashville is home to various restaurants, boutiques, and bed and breakfasts. So, while the population and economy are quite small, the town maintains its bustling charm through every season of the year.
However, like many towns throughout Indiana, Nashville has not been able to escape the scourge of substance abuse. Every year, residents succumb to drug and alcohol abuse, and there are few local programs to help fight the rising number of overdoses and deaths.
Based on the most recent data, alcohol, marijuana, and meth are the most commonly abused substances in Nashville, Indiana. The town also sees the abuse of other substances, such as prescription opioids, cocaine, and heroin.
Continue reading to learn about substance abuse and addiction in Nashville, Indiana. And remember, if you or a loved one are fighting addiction in Nashville or the surrounding area, you can always reach out to Addiction Rehab Centers for help.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Nashville
Nashville’s small size makes it impossible for the town to collect and analyze drug abuse data with its own resources. Like most towns and cities in Indiana, Nashville relies on the county to collect and aggregate this data. Unfortunately, this makes it difficult to separate substance abuse cases originating in Nashville from those originating in other areas throughout the county, including unincorporated communities like Belmont and Pikes Peak.
At the same time, Nashville is the only incorporated town in Brown County, and has the largest population of any organized community in the county. As a result, many of the substance abuse cases recorded in Brown County originate in Nashville. That said, Nashville’s population only accounts for 8.1% of the county, so pinpointing the accuracy of case origination is complex. [1] Nonetheless, analyzing the available data in Brown County sheds light on the substance abuse crisis in Nashville and the surrounding area.
Brown County is among the smallest counties (by population) in the state of Indiana. This also means that it sees relatively few fatal overdoses compared to other counties. Still, it’s important to evaluate fatal overdoses and how this data has changed in recent years. Though death counts remain low, Brown County has seen a rise in deaths involving substance abuse, particularly since the onset 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:
Year | Total Deaths | % Change From Previous Year |
2016 | 2 | N/A |
2017 | 3 | Increased by 50.0% |
2018 | 3 | Increased by 0.0% |
2019 | 0 | Decreased by 50.0% |
2020 | 5 | N/A |
2021 | 10 | Increased by 100.0% |
2022 | 8 | Decreased by 20.0% |
*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.
Prior to 2020, there were just 8 deaths in Brown County over a 4-year period. 2019 was the only year on record with 0 fatal overdoses. However, like many counties in Indiana, Brown County saw a sudden spike in fatal overdoses in 2020 and 2021. 2021 was Brown County’s worst year by far, with 10 fatal overdoses on record. And while fatal overdoses do seem to be declining since the peak reached in 2021, the numbers are still far higher than they were prior to 2020. Additionally, it’s important to consider that the data for 2023 and 2024 is still provisional and could be revised in the near future. This means that it’s unclear whether this downward trend will continue in the coming years.
When analyzing a substance abuse crisis, fatal overdoses are just one piece of the puzzle. This is particularly true in low-density populations like Brown County. When the number of deaths is low, even small changes in the figures can seem massive. Consequently, it’s more useful to look at non-fatal overdoses, which are far more common. This data is collected via hospital discharges and emergency department visits involving addictive substances. The table below shows the relevant overdose data in Brown County between 2016 and 2024: [3]
Year | Total Hospital Discharges & Emergency Department Visits | % Change From Previous Year |
2016 | 17 | N/A |
2017 | 21 | Increased by 23.5% |
2018 | 12 | Decreased by 42.9% |
2019 | 15 | Increased by 25.0% |
2020 | 17 | Increased by 13.3% |
2021 | 50 | Increased by 194.1% |
2022 | 47 | Decreased by 6.0% |
*2023 | 29 | Decreased by 38.3% |
*2024 | 6 | 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.
Similar to fatal overdoses, non-fatal overdoses remained relatively low in the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic. Between 2016 and 2020, the worst year was 2017, with a total of 21 non-fatal overdoses. However, 2021 saw a very dramatic spike in non-fatal overdoses, and the figure remained high in 2022. Though non-fatal overdoses have begun to decline since 2021, the data for 2023 and 2024 is still provisional, so whether or not it will change is yet to be confirmed.
The relationship between fatal, non-fatal, and total overdoses is also a useful way to evaluate the changes in an ongoing substance abuse crisis. For example, in 2016, there were a total of 19 overdoses (fatal and non-fatal) in Brown County. Of those 19, just 2 (10.5%) were fatal. By 2022 (the most recent year with finalized data), the total number of overdoses increased to 55 in Brown County. Of those 55, 8 (14.5%) were fatal. While this isn’t a massive increase, it still indicates that local authorities have not been able to reduce the rate of fatal overdoses. On the other hand, every overdose increases the chances of a fatality, so as total overdose numbers increase, the percentage of fatal overdoses tends to increase at a slightly increased rate.
Types of Substance Abuse in Nashville
In 2023 and 2024, alcohol, marijuana, and meth were the most abused drugs in Brown County. This information has been gleaned from arrest and re-arrest records, which provide a broad picture of how different drugs and substances become more or less prevalent from year to year. 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 Brown County:
Year | Total Arrests | Alcohol | Cocaine | Marijuana | Meth | Opioid | Drug Paraphernalia |
2016 | 110 | 68 | 0 | 36 | 18 | 6 | 58 |
2017 | 103 | 60 | 2 | 31 | 14 | 11 | 66 |
2018 | 91 | 49 | 1 | 22 | 16 | 9 | 49 |
2019 | 65 | 33 | 1 | 20 | 14 | 7 | 32 |
2020 | 67 | 34 | 0 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 27 |
2021 | 131 | 40 | 1 | 31 | 40 | 19 | 67 |
2022 | 75 | 37 | 0 | 21 | 15 | 3 | 28 |
2023* | 58 | 26 | 3 | 16 | 23 | 3 | 20 |
2024* | 71 | 25 | 0 | 26 | 22 | 8 | 29 |
*Statistics for 2023 and 2024 are still preliminary and do not account for the entire calendar year(s).
Between 2016 and 2022, total arrests involving addictive substances declined by 31.8%. Over the same period, alcohol and drug paraphernalia arrests were nearly cut in half. Marijuana and prescription opioid arrests also saw a substantial decline, though meth was one of the few drugs to increase in prevalence (based on arrest data alone).
Just because the total number of arrests has declined, however, does not mean that drug or alcohol abuse is any less prevalent. It could be that people addicted to drugs or alcohol in Brown County have simply evaded arrest, or that local authorities have reduced their efforts to arrest substance abusers for possession and similar crimes.
One of the most unique changes observed in the data above is the steep decline in drug paraphernalia arrests. These arrests are often linked to a wide variety of crimes involving drugs, particularly meth and heroin, and they tend to be high in most counties. It’s unclear why these arrests have declined so much, even as meth arrests have increased. However, it’s important to remember that the data for 2023 and 2024 is still provisional, so it will be vital to see the finalized numbers before reaching any conclusions about shifts in the most recent arrest data.
Nashville Substance Abuse Resources
Despite its small size, Nashville offers more resources for people in crisis than towns and cities ten times its size. Residents can visit the town website to find places to go for mental health crises, addiction, and even financial problems. Substance abuse has been so prevalent that a documentary film, The Addict’s Wake, was made to shed light on the devastating impact of addiction in Nashville and the rest of Brown County.
However, like most towns in Indiana, Nashville leans heavily on the county for support. Fortunately, Brown County participates in 3 of the 7 state-sponsored programs to combat substance abuse: First Responder Naloxone Education, LHD Naloxone Education, and the Overdose Fatality Review Team.
The First Responder Naloxone Education program distributes Naloxone, a life-saving drug used to save those experiencing an opioid overdose, to local clinics and emergency departments. The program also educates first responders on the proper application of Naloxone. The LHD Naloxone program is a broader initiative to educate all residents on Naloxone and its life-saving properties. Finally, the Overdose Fatality Review Team is a group of local experts who review the latest substance abuse data and attempt to craft new programs or legislation to reduce fatal overdoses going forward.
Nashville Drug Rehab & Alcohol Rehab
Nashville is truly one of the most beautiful cities in Indiana, drawing in thousands of visitors every year. But in spite of its charming exterior, there is a substance abuse crisis brewing just below the surface. Every day, individuals and families struggle with addiction in Nashville and other parts of Brown County. And while there are local programs to provide support, few actually guide residents toward the treatments they need. As a result, many locals feel as if they have nowhere to turn for real, lasting assistance.
Fortunately, if you or a loved one live in Nashville, Indiana, and are looking for addiction treatment options, Addiction Rehab Centers is just a phone call or an hour’s drive away. Located in Indianapolis, Addiction Rehab Centers is one of the top detox and rehabilitation facilities in the region. A modern, comfortable rehabilitation center staffed with experienced counselors and substance abuse experts, Addiction Rehab Centers is the best place to go when you or someone you love needs help to get clean. We will guide you through every step of your recovery, from the first days of detox to the final days of inpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, as well as 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 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.
