By Steve Davisson, Indiana Representative, House District 73

Recently, a symposium focused on prescription drug abuse was held in Indianapolis to examine critical and emerging topics related to this public health and safety crisis. 

The program was a statewide collaboration of industry professionals and leaders from public, private and nonprofit sectors. This type of cooperation is necessary in order to create impactful solutions to prevent prescription drug abuse. While our nation continues to explore how to most efficiently tackle this epidemic, Indiana leaders are taking this issue very seriously.

Prescription drug abuse is a problem found in all parts of the state among people of all ages, races, genders and incomes. In 2016, nearly 64,000 people in the United States died from drug overdoses, in which half were opioid related. In Indiana last year, drugs killed more than 1,300 people.

Medication assisted treatments are becoming an increasingly important tool in treating substance abuse. This type of treatment combines therapy with the use of medication to help individuals manage withdrawals and triggers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute on Drug Abuse and the World Health Organization have all accepted MATs as effective treatment options for substance abuse. While research has also confirmed MATs work, some people are still wary. The reluctance comes from the perception that MATs are simply swapping one substance for another. Ending this stigma may be the biggest obstacle.

In Indiana, Boone and Dearborn counties are addressing addiction in a different way by targeting those who are incarcerated. Many jails throughout the state are facing the issue of overcrowding. By shifting the focus from incarceration for nonviolent drug offenses to rehabilitation, communities can deal with both overcrowding and addiction. The Dearborn County Jail Chemical Addiction Program fights addiction in our communities. Participants in the program stay for a minimum of 90 days in a designated location exclusively for them. Placing participants in a less hostile environment and away from potentially harmful influences helps keep them on the right path. The Boone County Jail has a similar program. Over the years, these programs have had great success saving lives, lowering recidivism rates, and improving the health of local communities.

To save more lives, the state has distributed multiple naloxone kits to community agencies, first responders and other health care providers. Naloxone, also called Narcan, can reverse opioid overdoses and revive people who otherwise may die without the immediate treatment.

But once people are saved, they need to take the next step to recovery. Indiana recently launched Next Level Recovery, which is an online portal for all state resources addressing the opioid crisis. This site provides a comprehensive, community-based and proactive plan of attack against the epidemic. At www.in.gov/recovery, those facing substance use disorders and their families can find resources about recovery without jumping from site to site. There is also data for health care professionals, emergency personnel, law enforcement and community leaders.

This problem will not disappear overnight. Drug addiction is a complex disease and often involves addressing a number of risk factors in communities and individuals, and there is no single perfect solution. However, Hoosiers are committed to developing strategies to take on this issue and saving lives.

If you or someone you know is misusing prescription drugs, please remember that this should only be treated by a health care professional. To find a treatment facility near you, visit www.in.gov/fssa/dmha or call 1-800-662-HELP.

As always, please contact me with any questions, comments or input you may have at 317-232-9648 or h73@iga.in.gov. I appreciate hearing from you in order to better represent our district. Stay up-to-date with the work being done at the Statehouse by signing up to receive my email updates atwww.in.gov/h73.

Imagine getting a telephone call and the caller identifies himself as Lt. Owens with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.

The caller further advises you that you failed to appear for mandated jury duty and the police will be coming to your house in the next two hours to arrest you unless you pay a $4,500 fine.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Department dispatch center has received 15-20 telephone calls from citizens in the past couple of hours reporting that they have received this type of telephone call.

This type of scam has continued for more than a decade and continues to be one of the most successful multipurpose intimidation imposter schemes.

Usually the deception is about failing to appear for a mandated jury duty and targets are told they are in contempt of court or have a federal warrant out for their arrest.

The caller may seem authentic, with your caller ID showing phone numbers for a courthouse or law enforcement agency and the caller may even use names of local police officers or judges.

The caller will tell you to avoid arrest, you can pay a fine in the form of a prepaid debit or gift card. The caller may ask to confirm your identity and ask for your personal information. HANG UP IMMEDIATELY without providing any information about yourself and certainly don’t run off to purchase a Green Dot Money Pak or iTunes gift card.

Authentic jury duty notifications, as well as no shows summonses are nearly always delivered by mail. In rare cases prospective jurors may be contacted by telephone by legitimate courthouse employees, but you will not be asked to provide personal information.

Legitimate police officials never give a heads-up phone call warning of an impending arrest about missing jury duty or any other infraction.

These types of scams normally occur after the courthouse has closed for the day, making it tough to verify the call.

If you have concerns, look up the courthouse phone number and verify the missed jury allegation with the jury duty coordinator or the court clerk’s office.

If you receive a telephone call after courthouse hours you can call the Washington County Sheriff’s Department at 812-883-5999 to report the telephone call and or to verify the validity of the telephone call.

Lieutenant Chris Keeton, Commander of the Indiana State Police Post at Sellersburg welcomed three new troopers to the Sellersburg District. 

The three new state troopers reported for duty Monday October 30th, to the Indiana State Police Post at Sellersburg. 

The troopers are from a class of 37 troopers who just graduated from the 77th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy on Thursday October 19th. 

During the training period the recruits received over 500 hours of classroom instruction as well as nearly 300 hours of hands-on practical and scenario based training exercises.

These troopers will now be assigned to train with veteran troopers for the next 13 weeks before receiving their own patrol cars for solo patrol. The Sellersburg District consists of Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Scott and Washington Counties.

Cameron M. Collins, 24, from Lexington, IN. Cameron is a graduate of Scottsburg High School and University of Indianapolis.

Michael D. McCutcheon, 22, from Jeffersonville, IN. He graduated from Jeffersonville High School.

Justin T. Smith, 24, from Sellersburg, IN. Justin is a graduate of Seymour High School and is currently finishing his Bachelor’s Degree at Indiana University/Purdue University at Columbus. He has a three year old daughter.