Rockport, Indiana, is the southernmost city in Indiana, located in the Ohio Township of Spencer County. Residents enjoy a view of the beautiful Ohio River, serving as the delineation between Indiana and Kentucky. Though it’s small, Rockport also happens to be a quintessential Indiana city. It has a quiet, old-style main street, riverside roads and walking paths, and even historical buildings and tourist attractions, namely Lincoln Pioneer Village.
Rockport is home to just 1,984, but it is still one of the most populous cities in Spencer County (pop. 20,192). The city and county enjoy a high median household income, $70,890, which is just slightly higher than the state median, and a comparatively low poverty rate of 8.7% (compared to 12.3% across all of Indiana). [1]
Despite its thriving economy and unique charm, Rockport has been hit hard by the ongoing substance abuse epidemic. Hundreds of local families and individuals are affected every year, and with so few local resources to combat the crisis, it may only get worse in the years to come.
Based on the most recent data, meth and marijuana are the most commonly abused substances in Rockport, Indiana. The city also sees the abuse of other addictive substances, such as alcohol, prescription opioids, cocaine, and heroin.
Continue reading to learn about substance abuse and addiction in Rockport, Indiana. And remember, if you or a loved one is fighting addiction in Rockport or the surrounding area, you can always reach out to Addiction Rehab Centers for help.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Rockport
Rockport is a small city that doesn’t collect substance abuse data from arrests, overdoses, and fatalities that occur within its borders. Instead, Spencer County collects this data on the city’s behalf. This is the standard operating procedure in Indiana. The downside is that Spencer County (like all Indiana counties) combines the substance abuse cases from all cities, towns, and municipalities within its purview.
This makes it more challenging to discover exactly how many cases originate in Rockport alone. Nonetheless, Rockport serves as the seat of Spencer County and is the second most populous city in the county behind the city of Santa Claus. So, even though Rockport only accounts for about 9.8% of the county population, it contributes a higher percentage of arrests, overdoses, and fatalities involving addictive substances. By some estimates, it may account for as much as 20% of the county’s substance abuse cases. As a result, examining the county-level data sheds light on the crisis occurring in the city of Rockport.
When determining the severity of a substance abuse crisis in a specific population, we first look at the number of fatal overdoses occurring from year to year. Since Rockport and Spencer County have relatively small populations, they also have relatively few fatal overdoses on record.
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 | 3 | N/A |
2017 | 0 | N/A |
2018 | 0 | N/A |
2019 | 3 | N/A |
2020 | 3 | Increased by 0.0% |
2021 | 3 | Increased by 0.0% |
2022 | 4 | Increased by 33.3% |
*2023 | <5 | 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.
Though there’s little data to go on, it is clear that Spencer County saw an uptick in fatal overdoses during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a common occurrence across most Indiana counties. However, 2017 and 2018 saw zero fatalities, and 2019, 2020, and 2021, saw just 3 fatalities each. By 2022, the number of fatal overdoses had climbed to 4. This is somewhat unusual, as many cities saw fatal overdoses begin to decline by 2022. The data for 2023 and 2024 is still provisional; we only know that each year saw at least 1 fatality, but fewer than 5. Once the final figures become available, it will be clearer if the upward trend continues or if overdose fatalities will decline in Rockport and the rest of Spencer County.
Non-fatal overdoses are a far better metric for evaluating a substance abuse crisis. This is partly because they are far more common than fatal overdoses (especially in small populations), and partly because they are easier to collect via well-documented hospital discharges and emergency department visits involving addictive substances. The table below shows the relevant overdose data in Spencer County between 2016 and 2024: [3]
Year | Total Hospital Discharges & Emergency Department Visits | % Change From Previous Year |
2016 | 28 | N/A |
2017 | 21 | Decreased by 25.0% |
2018 | 19 | Decreased by 9.5% |
2019 | 22 | Increased by 15.8% |
2020 | 18 | Decreased by 18.2% |
2021 | 9 | Decreased by 50.0% |
2022 | 21 | Increased by 133.3% |
*2023 | 23 | 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 worst year for non-fatal overdoses was 2016, when Spencer County recorded 28. Since then, the number of non-fatal overdoses has generally declined, reaching a low of 9 in 2021. However, 2022 saw a sudden spike, which continued in 2023. Though the data for 2023 and 2024 is still provisional, there have been fewer than 5 non-fatal overdoses recorded in 2024, indicating that non-fatal overdoses may once again be in decline in Spencer County.
We must also look at the correlation between fatal, non-fatal, and total overdoses (fatal plus non-fatal). In 2016, Spencer County recorded 31 total overdoses. 3 of these overdoses, or 9.6%, were fatal. By 2022, the most recent year with finalized data, Spencer County recorded a total of 25 overdoses. 4 of these overdoses, or 16%, were fatal. This means that, even as total overdoses declined between 2016 and 2022, the fatality rate increased.
Types of Substance Abuse in Rockport
In 2023 and 2024, marijuana and meth were the most abused substances in Rockport County. This is common for many counties in southern Indiana. 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 Spencer County:
Year | Total Arrests | Alcohol | Cocaine | Marijuana | Meth | Opioid | Drug Paraphernalia |
2016 | 157 | 77 | 0 | 26 | 38 | 1 | 65 |
2017 | 184 | 62 | 2 | 54 | 57 | 7 | 91 |
2018 | 187 | 67 | 2 | 59 | 67 | 9 | 105 |
2019 | 164 | 56 | 0 | 58 | 70 | 5 | 84 |
2020 | 240 | 99 | 2 | 47 | 93 | 11 | 43 |
2021 | 140 | 42 | 0 | 56 | 74 | 6 | 71 |
2022 | 186 | 58 | 2 | 77 | 74 | 5 | 78 |
2023* | 164 | 60 | 1 | 62 | 52 | 12 | 64 |
2024* | 191 | 53 | 1 | 74 | 76 | 4 | 78 |
*Statistics for 2023 and 2024 are still preliminary and do not account for the entire calendar year(s).
Total arrests in Spencer County have not followed a consistent pattern over the past decade. Total arrests reached a peak in 2020, which is not as common in Indiana, as many counties saw a decline in arrests during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. Provisional data for 2024 and 2024 indicate that arrests may be on the rise. Between 2016 and 2022, alcohol, marijuana, and meth arrets remained high, but varied from year to year. Cocaine and opioid arrests generally remained low, while drug paraphernalia arrests — most often associated with meth or heroin abuse — stayed high over the same period.
Rockport Substance Abuse Resources
Rockport does not have any substance abuse programs. This is typical for small towns and cities in Indiana. Instead, it relies on the county and state for assistance. As part of its Comprehensive Community Plan, Spencer County issued the following Vision Statement: “The Local Coordinating Counsel strives to mitigate substance use and misuse in Spencer County.” Additionally, it put out the following Mission Statement: “The purpose of the Spencer County Substance Abuse Council is to prevent alcohol and other substance abuse by:
- Financially supporting programs which meet needs identified by citizens of our county
- Serving as a resource for intervention
- Sponsoring community events to increase awareness of ATOD issues” [4]
Spencer County participates in 2 of the 7 state-sponsored programs to combat substance abuse: the First Responder Naloxone County program and Overdose Fatality Review Team. The former ensures that emergency responders are equipped and trained to administer Naloxone, a life-saving drug used during opioid overdoses, while the latter helps local experts evaluate substance abuse data and craft new programs and recommend legislation to reduce overdoses and fatalities.
Rockport Drug Rehab & Alcohol Rehab
Rockport is a beautiful city with a long history. Hundreds of families are proud to call Rockford, Indiana, home. At the same time, the city and the rest of Spencer County are plagued by the damage caused by addiction. While there are some programs to try to reduce fatalities, there are virtually no initiatives to direct those in need toward effective detox or rehab. As a result, many residents of Rockport and the surrounding area feel as if they have nowhere to turn for help.
Fortunately, if you or a loved one lives in the town of Rockport, Indiana, and is looking for addiction treatment options, Addiction Rehab Centers is just a phone call or a three-hour drive away. Located in Indianapolis, Addiction Rehab Centers is a top-tier detox and rehabilitation facility that is designed to give patients and their loved ones peace of mind. We emphasize comfort while we guide you through the recovery process, including detoxification, inpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, counseling, 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.
