Delaware County addiction treatment center opens as Muncie Crisis Center ends crisis services
Delaware County’s inpatient addiction treatment center is about to open. As IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports, the look into that facility comes on the same week the Muncie Crisis Center announces its closing as a place to help treat mental health.
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The building next to the Delaware County Justice Center was built with federal COVID-era American Rescue Plan funds and was a longtime goal for the county commissioners, like Shannon Henry.
“There’s still overdoses and people suffering with addiction every, every single day,” he said. “And anything we can do to help the people of this community and the surrounding community, we’re excited, we’re excited to do.”
The 42-bed inpatient facility will soon take its first patients. It’s run by Indiana Treatment Centers, which also runs two other facilities in the state. MistyDawn Patterson is the Director of Nursing.
“The need is there,” said Patterson, “and everybody here has a heart for what we’re doing, trying to give people second chances and really just help them on their journey.”
The $7.6 million facility also received the first $2.5 million state grant from a program specifically for regional mental health facilities.
At its groundbreaking in August 2024, commissioners said there were already plans for expansion for additional beds or possibly a juvenile wing, if needed.
At the time, commissioner Sherri Riggin said, “You know, I hope in 50 years that we don’t need it anymore. But who knows?”
Muncie Crisis Center
The same week the new facility’s ribbon was cut, the city of Muncie announced the Muncie Crisis Center would end its addiction and mental health services at the beginning of July.
The center was opened in 2025 as a 24-hour staffed location to help with mental health and addiction episodes. It was transferred to Muncie Mission for $1 in April, so the Mission could begin a basic health clinic.
At the time, Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour said the city paid about $40,000 a month towards those crisis services. He said that is a cost that the city won’t be able to sustain after the state’s property tax cuts go into effect.
Meridian’s contract ran through the end of this year, but now the city says it will end services on July 3, 2026.
In April, the city said Meridian had provided services for more than 400 visits to the crisis center.
A report from the Indiana Commission to Combat Drug Abuse says “Indiana is the 10th worst state in the United States struggling with addiction, overdose, and treatment challenges.”
Stephanie Wiechmann is our Managing Editor and “All Things Considered” Host. Contact her at slwiechmann@bsu.edu.
