The Madison County Board of County Commissioners has delayed its to restart the syringe exchange program. A motion was made in July to extend the program, but it was not seconded. “It is hopeful that the commissioners, who suggested Aspire Indiana Health return to the regular January meeting, will approve the request to continue the program through July,” said Barbara Scott, CEO of Aspire Indiana Health that operates the program. Syringe services programs help stop the spread of hepatitis C and HIV, and people in the harm-reduction program are more likely to seek treatment and to return used syringes, which results in fewer needles in the community.
The Indiana Department of Health has released a grant opportunity for the distribution of Opioid Rescue Kits in the form of Narcan nasal spray. Eligible entities include local health departments and first responders serving rural counties.
Local health departments distribute the kits to the community. The goal is to increase the number of LHDs that participate in Opioid Rescue Kit distribution. Those who agree to participate must be trained by the awardee on how to administer naloxone, and grant recipients are responsible for ensuring these individuals are properly trained.
For first responders serving rural counties, eligible entities include: law enforcement, fire, EMS agencies, department of corrections, parole officers and schools. First responder organizations that are granted naloxone doses will be responsible for not only administering the doses, but reporting their use to the Indiana Department of Health through required methods.
Email Cassidy Johnson at casjohnson@isdh.in.gov for more information.
In 2019, the University of Pittsburgh was awarded a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to evaluate and model interventions offered by Indiana's Adult Problem-Solving Courts. Individuals who have been arrested for drug misuse can be sentenced to traditional correctional facilities, or in some cases, participate in Problem Solving Courts. These are specialized programs that seek to treat the underlying problems that contribute to criminal behavior. The Indiana Department of Health is a partner on this project, and provides data on mortality, emergency department visits, and inpatient hospitalizations. The state Department of Health participates in monthly meetings and advises on project methods, deliverables, and dissemination strategies. The University recently launched a website detailing their work.
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