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Since 2007, Hoosiers who have died due to drugs deaths increased 176% from 8.6 to 23.7 deaths per 100,000 population.1

Indiana was one of many states that was at ground zero due to the opioid epidemic. In 2015, 1,245 Hoosiers died due to drug overdoses.2 In 2017, Indiana ranked 34th worst in drug deaths with 17.9 deaths per 100,000.3 Unfortunately, Indiana has failed to improve and ranks 36th worst in drug deaths with 23.7 deaths per 100,000 in 2019.4

  • Hoosiers are more likely to die of a drug overdose than a car accident.5
  • Newborns exposed to opioid in utero have a 60-80% likelihood of suffering from Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), which could impact the child’s long-term growth, behaviors, language abilities, cognitive development and academic achievement. The estimated total marginal costs for neonatal abstinence syndrome births totaled more than $36 million in 2016.6

Addiction to both illegal and prescription drugs takes a tremendous toll on the health of our state with:

  • In addition to the human cost, economic damage from the misuse of opioids in Indiana cost $4.3 billion in 2017 and exceeded $4 billion again in 2018 — or about $11 million each day.7
  • Gross state product losses from the accrual of deaths in Indiana will likely exceed $1.25 billion, and another $1.75 billion will be lost due to underemployment attributed to misusers.8
  • Non-lethal opioid overdoses cost over $224 million in hospitalization costs in 2016 alone, with an additional $297 million in other opioid-related hospital stays.9

Alliance for a Healthier Indiana Victories

1. Stricter limits on prescribing of opioids

The Alliance supported Senate Enrolled Act 226 (2017) which stated that a prescriber shall limit an opioid being prescribed for the first time to a 7-day supply or less.

2. Partner with the State to integrate the prescription drug monitoring program, INSPECT, into hospital EHR systems

Effective August 24, 2017 Indiana began to implement a statewide, comprehensive platform for healthcare professionals to review patients’ controlled-substance prescription history more quickly and efficiently. This platform supports Indiana’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (INSPECT) and transfers data into electronic health records (EHR) and pharmacy management systems. Statewide integration of the INSPECT platform is a key component of Indiana’s ongoing efforts to address the opioid crisis.

Battling Addiction

Please join us — commit to a #HEALTHIERINDIANA