Indiana Initiatives
ACTIONS & PROGRESS REPORT
Updated December 2023: Download PDF
An important pillar in his Next Level Agenda, attacking the drug crisis is a top priority for Governor Eric Holcomb. On the day he took office, he called for an “all hands on deck” approach to address the rising occurrence of substance use disorder in Indiana. Every day since, Governor Holcomb has been taking steps to prevent more people from becoming dependent on illicit substances, help Hoosiers access treatment and recover from substance use disorder, arrest and prosecute dealers whose actions cause harm, and reduce the risk of a future crisis of similar magnitude.
When COVID-19 arrived in Indiana, the state was tasked with restructuring the traditional treatment model to ensure Hoosiers could still receive the support they needed while at home. Partner organizations went virtual to continue providing peer recovery support, community outreach, telemedicine, naloxone and suicide prevention training. Residential substance use disorder providers and recovery residences kept their doors open. Thanks to the quick work at the Division of Mental Health and Addiction and remarkable flexibility from Indiana’s federal partners, access to life saving medication-assisted treatment was preserved. It’s imperative that Hoosiers continue to stay connected and share resources as we find new ways to support individuals with a substance use disorder during this unprecedented time.
In response to Governor Holcomb’s call to action, many public and private partners have joined forces with us. Our Next Level Recovery initiatives have been amplified with federal support and funding. While we’ve seen encouraging signs of progress that demonstrate our efforts are having an impact, one life lost is too many, and there’s still much more to do.
2017 General Assembly Legislation
SEA 243
Establishes a pilot project to pay for OB/GYN doctors to be trained in prescribing drugs such as buprenorphine for medication-assisted treatment.
SEA 226
Limits prescriptions to first-time patients and children. Provides an option for patients to accept less pills than prescribed.
SEA 446
Sets up a pilot project to provide opioid treatment to pregnant women and mothers of newborns at three locations in Indiana: Indianapolis, Winchester and southern Indiana.
SEA 242
Creates a plan by 2018 to house and treat homeless Hoosiers who have a drug addiction, mental illness or combination of the two.
HEA 1541
Supplies the framework for mobile treatment units to expand care in underserved parts of the state.
SEA 156
Develops a plan by January 1, 2018 to increase the number of inpatient and residential beds for detox and drug treatment in Indiana.
HEA 1438
Allows municipalities to establish the syringe exchange programs without state approval.
SEA 510
Provides that Allen County may enter into an agreement with an entity to administer a residential substance abuse pilot program.
SEA 151
Requires prescribers to indicate when a patient has entered into a pain management agreement.
SEA 408
Audits the amount of money being spent to integrate INSPECT with electronic health record systems and asks a committee to study improvements to INSPECT.
SEA 499
Establishes a three year opioid treatment pilot program (pilot program) for opioid abuse disorder in Tippecanoe, Marion, and Wayne counties.
HEA 1006
Ensures residences for residential care and supported housing for chronic addiction are certified and meet standards determined by the division of mental health and addiction.
