Washington is a small city in southwestern Indiana, just a 30-minute drive from the state’s border with Illinois. Known for its historical architecture, Washington is small both in its geography and population. Occupying just over 6.6 square miles of land, the city of Washington, Indiana is home to approximately 12,000 residents. However, Washington is often conflated with the larger Washington Township, which occupies a slightly larger portion of Daviess County and has a population of 16,054.
Despite its convenient location along Interstate 69, Washington (both the city and the township) has struggled economically. The median household income is $54,242, which is roughly $10,000 lower than the median for all of Daviess County, and even lower than the median for all of Indiana. Additionally, Washington has a poverty rate of 14.7% — higher than the state average of 12.6%. [1]
Economic difficulties and the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have only exacerbated the ongoing substance abuse crisis in Washington and the rest of Daviess County. Based on the most recent data, alcohol and meth are the most commonly abused drugs in Washington, Indiana. The city also sees the abuse of other substances, such as marijuana, prescription opioids, heroin, and cocaine.
Continue reading to learn about substance abuse and addiction in Washington, Indiana. And remember, if you or a loved one are fighting addiction in Washington or the surrounding area, you can always reach out to Addiction Rehab Centers for help.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Washington
Washington is a small municipality that doesn’t have many resources to manage substance abuse data on its own. Fortunately, this is not a responsibility that is put on cities in Indiana, regardless of their size. Instead, cities depend on county administrators to collect and analyze substance abuse data. In the case of Washington, Daviess County collects data from the city, township, and other municipalities in the region, including Odon and Montgomery.
This makes it more difficult to analyze the drug and alcohol addiction crisis at the city level. However, it’s important to consider that Washington Township accounts for more than half of the county population, and it’s estimated that at least 70% of substance abuse cases recorded in Daviess County originate in Washington. Consequently, the county-level data bears a strong resemblance with the data for Washington alone.
Fatal overdoses are one of many metrics used to measure the severity of a substance abuse epidemic. While deaths are not the only metric, they are often the first one considered by legislators and administrators looking for ways to curb the threat of drug and alcohol abuse. In Daviess County, there has not been a consistent trend with fatal overdoses trend as we have seen in many other municipalities throughout the state. [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 | 4 | N/A |
2017 | 5 | Increased by 25.0% |
2018 | 4 | Decreased by 20.0% |
2019 | 2 | Decreased by 50.0% |
2020 | 1 | Decreased by 50.0% |
2021 | 4 | Increased by 300.0% |
2022 | 4 | Decreased by 0.0% |
*2023 | 3 | Decreased by 25.0% |
*Data for 2023 is provisional and only accounts for the first half of the year.
As you can see from the table above, overdose deaths have varied from year to year. Deaths peaked in 2017 before declining. Contrary to most counties in Indiana, Daviess County recorded the fewest overdose deaths in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, overdose deaths rebounded in 2022, resulting in very little effective change since 2016. While there were only 3 deaths recorded in 2023, the data is still provisional, so it’s unclear whether this small downward trend will continue into 2024 and beyond.
Like most counties, Daviess County records a very small number of overdose deaths in any given year. Non-fatal overdoses, on the other hand, tend to make up a much larger percentage of total overdoses. This holds true in Daviess County, where hospital discharges and emergency department visits involving drug or alcohol overdoses far outnumber fatal overdoses. The table below shows the relevant overdose data in Daviess County between 2016 and 2023: [3]
Year | Total Hospital Discharges & Emergency Department Visits | % Change From Previous Year |
2016 | 58 | N/A |
2017 | 68 | Increased by 17.2% |
2018 | 70 | Increased by 2.9% |
2019 | 70 | Decreased by 0.0% |
2020 | 55 | Decreased by 21.4% |
2021 | 54 | Decreased by 1.8% |
2022 | 57 | Increased by 5.6% |
*2023 | 23 | Decreased by 59.6% |
*Data for 2023 is provisional and only accounts for the first half of the year.
Like fatal overdoses, there is not a very clear trend to be extracted from the available data related to non-fatal overdoses. This figure peaked in 2018 and 2019, but has since been in decline. While this might seem like a good sign on the surface, it’s not a double-edged sword when compared to year-to-year changes in fatal overdoses.
For example, in 2017, there were a total of 62 recorded overdoses (fatal and non-fatal). Of these overdoses, 6.4% resulted in death. While the data for 2023 is still provisional, it shows a significant decline in total overdoses and non-fatal overdoses, but only a small decline in fatal overdoses. As a result, 2023 recorded a total of 26 overdoses, 13% of which were fatal. This means that the overdose fatality rate in Daviess County more than doubled between 2016 and 2023, even as total overdoses declined.
Types of Substance Abuse in Washington
In 2023 and 2024, alcohol and meth were the most abused drugs in Daviess County. While it is difficult to know with 100% certainty which drugs are being abused (and how frequently), arrest and re-arrest records can provide a broad picture of substance abuse trends. 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 Daviess County:
Year | Total Arrests | Alcohol | Cocaine | Marijuana | Meth | Opioid | Drug Paraphernalia |
2016 | 409 | 312 | 6 | 118 | 149 | 0 | 191 |
2017 | 413 | 306 | 2 | 100 | 199 | 5 | 219 |
2018 | 485 | 308 | 0 | 201 | 223 | 1 | 241 |
2019 | 417 | 160 | 3 | 125 | 340 | 0 | 225 |
2020 | 265 | 136 | 5 | 61 | 189 | 7 | 107 |
2021 | 241 | 96 | 3 | 60 | 176 | 4 | 75 |
2022 | 192 | 94 | 1 | 42 | 110 | 1 | 47 |
2023* | 258 | 106 | 3 | 34 | 125 | 15 | 46 |
2024* | 157 | 45 | 0 | 11 | 66 | 5 | 45 |
*Statistics for 2023 and 2024 are still preliminary and do not account for the entire calendar year(s).
Total arrests related to addictive substances have declined in Daviess County, which is consistent with many other counties in Indiana. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, arrests declined the most, but they have since begun to rise again, even though the data for 2023 and 2024 is still preliminary.
Looking at the finalized data (pre-2023), alcohol arrests declined dramatically between 2016 and 2022. Over the same period, there were very few cocaine and prescription opioid arrests. Alternatively, marijuana and meth arrests declined, but remained high, especially when compared to less commonly abused drugs. Drug paraphernalia arrests also declined substantially, and these arrests are most often linked to heroin abuse.
Washington Substance Abuse Resources
Neither the city of Washington nor Washington Township have their own programs or resources to combat substance abuse. Like virtually all cities in Indiana, Washington depends on the county for support. Daviess offers various programs, including the RARE educational program to help prevent substance abuse in younger residents before it starts.
There are also 7 state-sponsored programs that counties in Indiana can participate in. Of these 7 programs, Daviess County participates in 2: First Responder Naloxone Training and LHD Naloxone Distribution. Both of these programs are focused on Naloxone, the drug used to save lives during an opioid overdose. The first program trains first responders to effectively administer Naloxone during an opioid overdose, while the second program focuses on distributing Naloxone throughout the county and educating the general population on its uses.
Washington Drug Rehab & Alcohol Rehab
Washington is a tranquil city with plenty of natural beauty and historic buildings that attract visitors from all over the state. Unfortunately, the positive aspects of Washington have been largely overshadowed by the economic downturn and the ever-worsening substance abuse crisis. Additionally, the lack of local programs has made it even harder for residents in need of help to find rehabilitation services. This can make many people in need feel as if they are left completely without support.
Fortunately, if you or a loved one live in Washington and are looking for addiction treatment options, Addiction Rehab Centers is just a phone call or a two-hour drive away. Located in Indianapolis, Addiction Rehab Centers is the best of what Indiana has to offer for drug and alcohol detox and rehabilitation. Our team of experts will guide you through every step of the process — from the earliest days of detox and rehab to aftercare therapy and support. Moreover, we specialize in dual-diagnosis treatments for co-occurring mental health disorders, ensuring that you get the help you need for addiction and any related mental health issues. 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.
