NOTICE: Indiana Health Coverage Programs

Additional billing instructions presented for EMS treat-no-transport and naloxone administration. Click link above for more information.

Trends in Prosecutorial Response to the Opioid Epidemic

A recent Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP) publication highlighted the trends in prosecutorial response to the opioid epidemic. Many prosecutors’ offices have reduced criminal sanctions for those convicted of abusing drugs and have recognized substance use disorder as a chronic illness. This has resulted in the emergence of drug courts, diversion programs and other harm reduction measures. On the other hand, harsher penalties have been mandated for people who sell drugs and pharmaceutical companies that developed and misconstrued/understated the addictive nature of the drugs. There has also been an increase in local and national level lawsuits against drug makers for their roles in the opioid epidemic. For a further dive into prosecutorial trends, please visit here.

High Schoolers Who Misuse Prescription Opioids Are at Higher Risk for Suicidal Behaviors

A study published by the Journal of the Academy of Pediatricsfound the students who misuse prescription opioids are at a higher risk of risk of suicidal behaviors. The study shows that there was significantly higher prevalence of attempted suicide if the student had reported prescription opioid misuse currently (use within the past 30 days) compared to students who reported misuse in the past (more than 30 days preceding the survey). The data for this study was collected through the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Students may misuse prescription opioids to ease emotional pain, mental health issues, suicidal thoughts, peer pressure, and/or due to curiosity. More female, Black, Hispanic, and LGBTQ+ teens reported current misuse of prescription misuse and attempted suicide than their white and male counterparts. Teens have been more likely to misuse prescription opioids of their family members first, rather than from dealers or online sources. Parents are being asked to closely monitor their own and their teens prescriptions.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number is 800-273-8255 (available 24 hours a day). Anyone can also text IN to 741741 for suicide prevention help. 

Indiana Suicide Prevention Toolkit

The Indiana Department of Health’s Suicide Learning Collaborative, a multi-disciplinary stakeholder group housed within the Indiana Department of Health, actively works to prevent suicide death in Indiana. The collaborative recently released the Indiana Suicide Prevention Resources Toolkit, which focuses on promoting simple, actionable suicide prevention tools (e.g., quick guides, brochures, posters) for different sectors. The full digital toolkit can be found here.

Follow us! @INDTrauma

Check out our website:

UPCOMING EVENTS

Peer Integration into Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and Other Jail-Based Treatment Programs

1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, March 24

The Bureau of Justice Assistance in partnership with the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant and Substance Abuse Program is hosting this webinar to highlight peer recovery support services that are increasingly being offered across criminal justice settings. The session will discuss the development and integration of such services into jail-based programs.

Click here to register.

Fighting Overdose: Voices on Polysubstance Use Community Virtual Webinar

2 p.m. – 4 p.m. EDT Wednesday, March 31

This webinar will teach participants how to conduct strategic planning at the community level using Alaskan culturally-specific techniques. It will also allow participants to discuss how polysubstance use is affecting the different states and what is being done to address it. It is being hosted in conjunction by the State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Office of Substance Misuse and Addiction Prevention, and the CDC OD2A Peer-to-Peer Learning Collaborative.

For more information and to register click here.

Indiana Opioid Echo - Virtual ECHO Clinic for Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder and Stimulant Use Disorder

Noon – 1 p.m., Wednesdays (Series), January – May 2021

This free TeleECHO clinic aims to teach participants on how to identify and manage patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) and stimulant use disorder (SUD). The goal is to have a team of experts present on information related to medication-assisted treatment and continuity of care increase clinical competence in treating OUD and SUD. It is designed as a drop-in model, so attendance every week is not necessary. Additionally, this is an opportunity to gather CME credits, each session counts for one credit.

Upcoming sessions:

Mar. 24 - Contingency Management for the Treatment of Methamphetamine Use Disorder

Mar. 31- Withdrawals and Tapering from Stimulants

Click here to register and get a complete list of all upcoming sessions.

Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy – Project ECHO

Noon - 1:30 p.m. EDT Thursday, March - July 2021

The TeleECHO Clinic has partnered with MOMII (Maternal Opioid Misuse Indiana Initiative) program to promote clinical competence in treating for this complex disease in primary care offices, specifically highlighting evidenced based practices related to Medicated Assisted Treatment and continuity of care. 

Upcoming Webinars:

April 1 – Medications to Treat OUD in Pregnancy

April 15 – Pain Management

Click here to register.