The Consumption and Consequences of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drugs in Indiana: A State Epidemiological Profile: 2018Substance use continues to be a major public health concern, negatively impacting a variety of health, legal, and social outcomes. Nearly one-fourth of Hoosiers ages 12 and older engaged in binge drinking in the past month and one-tenth used an illicit substance. Furthermore, 7% of Indiana residents met criteria for substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year and 6.5% needed but did not receive treatment for their SUD.
Of particular concern is polysubstance use, or the use of two or more substances over a defined period, simultaneously or at differing times, for recreational purposes. In over 70% of admissions to substance use treatment in Indiana, the use of multiple substances was indicated, with 30% reporting the use of two drugs and nearly 41% reporting the use of three drugs.
During state fiscal year 2018, a total of 10,483 children were removed from their parents by the Department of Child Services in Indiana; almost two-thirds (64%) of these removals were due to parental alcohol and/or drug use.
