Marion’s City-County Council has approved the creation of Marion’s
County first syringe-exchange program. The program will be run out of a mobile
unit by the Marion County Public Health Department. In addition to the syringe
exchange, the program will provide a number of support services, including HIV
and hepatitis C rapid screening, referral for substance use disorder and mental
health treatment, immunization access and more.
Several laws passed in the 2018 legislative session will create new
requirements for physicians when they take effect July 1. For example, Senate
Enrolled Act 221 will require prescribers in various settings to check a
patient’s prescription drug history in the INSPECT database each time before
prescribing an opioid or benzodiazepine. The Indiana State Medical Association
has put together a FAQ about this new law which can be accessed here.
Emergency medical services personnel, firefighters, and police officers
are often the first on the scene to aid those experiencing an overdose. Research
shows that repeated exposure to such situations, the fast-paced nature of these
jobs, and institutional factors can take a toll on first responders' health.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has put
together a research bulletin that reviews existing literature and provides
insight into behavioral health issues experienced by first responders.
The House has passed 25 bills to combat rising drug-related deaths from
opioids, including prescription painkillers and heroin. The bills that have
passed include measures that would provide resources to help hospitals
discharge patients after an overdose by giving them the overdose-reversal drug
naloxone, as well as connecting them with peer support specialists and
treatment centers. The bills will now move to the Senate for further voting and
deliberation.
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