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The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) is launching a program to help attract mental healthcare providers to rural areas of the state where more services are needed. The program will provide an incentive for psychiatrists, alcohol and substance use counselors and practitioners in related disciplines to practice in a specific, federally designated Indiana region experiencing high numbers of opioid deaths. Officials will award grant money for professional college loan repayments to qualifying graduates in mental health and addiction-related disciplines, as well as for some primary care physicians. There will be 30 awards given each year for four years. Applications are available online.
 Drug overdose deaths (unadjusted) per 100,000 women aged 30–64 years, by age group and involved drug or drug class, 1999 and 2017
A new report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows drug overdose deaths have soared among women older than 30 starting in 1999 — with the biggest increase among women ages 45 to 64. Among this age group, drug overdose deaths have nearly tripled since 1999. During this same time, rates also increased for drug overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids, heroin, benzodiazepines, prescription opioids, cocaine and antidepressants. Click here to read the full report.
The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County is accepting applications for the Precision Health Network Funding Initiative. Up to $100,000 in grant funds is available for schools to implement substance abuse and curriculum-based prevention programs for students in sixth- through eighth-grade. Eligible schools for this year's grant initiative include all public, charter and accredited private schools in Brown, Daviess, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Morgan, Orange and Owen counties. The deadline to apply is Jan. 31.
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Opioids have the potential to cause rapid cessation of breathing, respiratory failure and death. Most overdose deaths could have been prevented through early detection and timely administration of naloxone, which quickly restores normal respiration to a person whose breathing has slowed or stopped. As such, researchers at the University of Washington developed an app called Second Chance that identifies respiratory depression, apnea and gross motor movements associated with an opioid overdose. If the app detects decreased or absent breathing, it sends an alarm asking the person to interact with it. If the person fails to interact with the app, Second Chance will immediately contact emergency services or a trusted friend or family member who has access to and can administer naloxone. The researchers are applying for approval from the Food and Drug Administration, and they estimate the app will be available in about eight months.
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