Muncie, Indiana is a mid-sized city located about 50 miles northeast of Indianapolis. The seat of Delaware County, Muncie functioned as a manufacturing powerhouse for decades. In more recent years, the city’s economy transitioned away from manufacturing to focus on healthcare and education. Muncie is perhaps best known as the home of Ball State University, as well as its historical significance in sociological studies of the early 20th century.
As of the latest census data, Muncie’s population has dropped to 65,076 after reaching a peak of 72,224 in 2001.[1] Part of this decline can be attributed to the reduced job opportunities throughout much of Delaware County. Currently, Ball State University and IU Ball Health Memorial Hospital are the two largest employers in the area, but many older residents have struggled with the deindustrialization of the region.[2]
A weakened economy and a population of older adults who are either unemployed or underemployed have exacerbated the addiction crisis in Muncie and the rest of Delaware County. While there are many factors that contribute to alcohol and drug addiction in Muncie, Indiana, it’s not always the cause that matters most. The fact remains that hundreds of individuals and families in Muncie struggle every single year with addiction.
Continue reading to learn about substance abuse and addiction in Muncie, Indiana. If you or a loved one are fighting addiction in Muncie, you can always reach out to Addiction Rehab Centers for help.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Muncie
Reporting of drug and alcohol addiction statistics in Muncie can be sporadic from year to year, but there’s enough data to conclude that the ongoing crisis has worsened recently. Despite the fact that Muncie is known for its robust healthcare system, many parts of Muncie are still underserved, particularly when it comes to opioid abuse prevention and treatment.
Economic woes have also pushed many Muncie residents to abuse drugs and alcohol. As many as 1 in 4 children under 18 in Muncie lives in poverty and experience food insecurity, while the same is true for more than half of young adults between the ages of 18 and 24. This has resulted in increased experimentation with drugs and alcohol at a young age. Early adoption of drugs and alcohol is one of the strongest catalysts of addiction.
A report from 2016 suggests that fewer people in Eastern Muncie were seeking treatment for opioid abuse, despite the number of Muncie patients seeking treatment climbing from 25,465 in 2015 to 37,077 in 2019.[3] Addiction is also growing among Delaware County’s population of incarcerated citizens. As of February 2021, Delaware County Jail is estimated to have 252 prisoners in need of addiction treatment. Early data indicates that the substance abuse crisis only worsened during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, though figures for 2022 and 2023 are still preliminary.
Types of Substance Abuse in Muncie
When looking at specific substances prevalent in Muncie and Delaware County, opioids are among the most commonly abused drugs. In 2019, Delaware County recorded an annual fatal drug overdose rate of 41.6 per 100,000 residents, compared to just 26.6 in all of Indiana. Of these fatal overdoses in Delaware County, 67.3% involved opioids, 24.6% involved benzodiazepines, and 16.8% involved cocaine. Delaware County also ranked 8th out of 92 counties in Indiana for the highest rate of non-fatal drug overdoses in 2019 — 334.7 per 100,000 residents.
While many opioids in Muncie and Delaware County are obtained illegally, the vast majority are obtained through legal prescriptions. In 2019, Delaware County recorded 260 opioid prescriptions per 1,000 residents, compared to 200.4 per 1,000 residents in the state of Indiana. While alcohol abuse is also a problem in Delaware County, it is not as prevalent as opioid abuse. The data on alcohol addiction is also somewhat limited, but some figures indicate that alcohol abuse may be in decline. In 2018, Delaware County recorded a peak of 579 drunk driving arrests. This number dropped to 530 in 2019 and 368 in 2020.[4]
Here is the latest data from Indiana’s Next Level Recovery program showing the arrest data involving different kinds of addictive substances between 2015 and 2023 in Delaware County:[5]
Year | Total Arrests | Alcohol | Cocaine | Marijuana | Meth | Opioid | Drug Paraphernalia |
2015 | 1,719 | 39.2% | 1% | 9.9% | 11% | 4.1% | 10% |
2016 | 1,343 | 35.3% | 3.2% | 11.5% | 9.9% | 4.6% | 10.2% |
2017 | 1,607 | 21.6% | 2.6% | 12.5% | 15.5% | 6.3% | 17.1% |
2018 | 1,791 | 18.7% | 1.8% | 11% | 22.8% | 4% | 19.4% |
2019 | 1,647 | 17.2% | 7.7% | 10.3% | 24.9% | 5.9% | 19.1% |
2020 | 845 | 15.2% | 7.8% | 9.9% | 23.1% | 8.9% | 19.9% |
2021 | 975 | 12.3% | 10.8% | 8.6% | 26.9% | 10.7% | 16.9% |
2022 | 802 | 16.7% | 11% | 10.1% | 24% | 7.7% | 15.3% |
2023* | 1,000 | 14.2% | 9.4% | 11.4% | 21.7% | 8.5% | 21.9% |
*Statistics for 2023 are still preliminary and do not account for the entire calendar year.
While many of the issues related to addiction in Muncie are directly connected to the rising number of substance abuse cases (particularly meth and opioid abuse), there are also secondary issues that arise from the proliferation of street drugs. Synthetic opioids like fentanyl have become more commonplace in Muncie and Delaware County, causing the county to be the 4th worst county in the state for fatal overdoses involving opioids. Fentanyl and similar opioids are so powerful that even a small miscalculation in dosage can lead to death. Other problems that have become increasingly common in Muncie are rising cases of Hepatitis C. These cases are often attributed to drug users sharing needles.
While drug overdoses peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic, they appear to be in decline in Delaware County. Between 2016 and 2021, the number of overdose deaths rose from 38 to 59. In 2022, the number of deaths dropped to 53. Preliminary data only shows 15 overdose deaths in 2023.
Muncie Substance Abuse Resources
The city of Muncie has more substance abuse resources than many other cities throughout the state. In 2021, the city created the Muncie Crisis Center in what was once a bar on the south side of the city.[6] This center has already helped save dozens of lives by providing an alternative to emergency room visits or even jail. Local residents can go to the crisis center to seek immediate help from trained behavioral professionals.
Some preventative and treatment programs are managed at the county level, while others are specifically designed for residents of Muncie (though Muncie does account for more than half of the entire county). Some of the most effective county-wide programs include:
- Overdose Fatality Review Team
- Naloxone education and distribution
- Harm reduction programs
There are also 29 reported addiction treatment programs in Muncie, 15 of which offer free services. These free services included 14 support groups and 1 crisis hotline. Only 7 of the 29 resources available in Muncie offer any form of counseling or intensive outpatient services.
Muncie Drug Rehab & Alcohol Rehab
Muncie is one of the worst cities in the state for substance abuse and there simply are not enough resources to help rehabilitate local residents. The city of Muncie, as well as Delaware County and the state of Indiana, have various programs to make it a bit easier for those seeking support or immediate overdose treatment (like Naloxone). However, the lack of inpatient rehab facilities and mental health services in Muncie has made it increasingly difficult for those who need more intensive care to start the road to recovery.
Fortunately, Addiction Rehab Centers is just an hour’s drive from Muncie, and it offers comprehensive rehab services for drug and alcohol addiction. Our staff are trained to manage dual diagnosis cases, so even if you’re struggling with mental health issues and addiction, we can treat both at the same time. 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.
