Fighting Opioids
Opioid abuse continues to be an issue for our nation, as individuals, families and entire communities see the damaging effects.
In Indiana, 488 Hoosiers died of an opioid overdose in 2016 alone, according to data released by the Indiana State Department of Health.
While illegal substances play a role, prescription drugs are also to blame. In fact, addiction to prescription painkillers is often what drives people to use heroin.
In 2016, 6.4 million opioid prescriptions were reported to INSPECT, Indiana’s prescription-monitoring service, ranking our state 11th in the nation for opioid prescriptions per population.
To continue to address this issue, one of my colleagues authored Senate Bill 221 this session, which would phase in a requirement over three years for doctors to check INSPECT when prescribing opioids to a patient. This would help prescribers know if a patient already has an opioid prescription from another provider or if a patient has a history of excessive opioid use.
Preventing the over-prescribing of opioids is one way we can tackle the opioid epidemic.
Click here for more information on SB 221.
Next Level Veterans
Gov. Eric Holcomb recently unveiled his Next Level Veterans initiative, which works to bring together public and private organizations to help discharged military personnel and veterans already living in our state.
Under the initiative, the governor launched www.in.gov/veterans. This website provides veterans with a one-stop-shop for information regarding affordable housing, education and training opportunities, and available jobs in our state.
The men and women who fight and have fought for our country have made countless sacrifices, and I hope to see this program have a positive impact on their lives.
For more information about the initiative, click here.