Governor Pence Outlines Indiana’s Progress in Combatting Drug Abuse in Advance of Congressional Action on Opioid Legislation

Indianapolis – Governor Mike Pence today sent a letter to the Indiana Congressional Delegation outlining the state of Indiana’s progress in combatting drug abuse in advance of Congressional action on opioid legislation this week. The letter, which can be found attached, includes actions by the Governor’s Task Force on Drug Enforcement, Treatment, and Prevention and legislative agenda items, including Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 187, which ensures that lifesaving overdose intervention drugs are available statewide by requiring the Indiana State Department of Health to issue a statewide standing order for naloxone. SEA 271, also enacted during the previous session of the Indiana General Assembly establishes the Indiana Commission to Combat Drug Abuse, which will build on the work of the Governor’s Task Force on Drug Enforcement, Treatment, and Prevention and take the lead in coordinating substance abuse policy throughout the state of Indiana beginning in 2017.

In the letter, the Governor states, “Like you, at the state level we recognize that this issue is large in scope and severe in its impact on the lives of our citizens.  I commend you for your efforts to move these vital pieces of legislation forward, and I would like to especially thank Reps. Susan Brooks and Larry Bucshon for their leadership in authoring two of the bills that will be voted on this week. The legislation that will be considered in the U.S. House, as well as previously passed U.S. Senate legislation on this topic, will provide states and our public safety and health care communities with greater resources, options and flexibilities to combat this epidemic.”