Indiana Can Help Nationally To Fight Opioid Addiction

Indiana Can Help Nationally To Fight Opioid Addiction

by Former State Representative Gail Riecken 

What great news that President Trump has committed national attention to the problem of opioid addiction.

His commitment supports what we all appreciate has been a critical issue for some time. As an article in Thursday’s New York Times explains – “About as many Americans are expected to die this year of drug overdoses as died in the Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined.” (‘Opioids, a Mass Killer We’re Meeting With a Shrug’ by Nicolas Kristof, New York Time, June 22, 2017,

A friend recently sent me the article and it immediately brought back fine memories of the accomplishments of the former Attorney General, Greg Zoeller, his team and the State legislature in advancing the cause to decrease opioid use by Hoosiers.

Attorney General Zoeller and his administrative team assembled medical and mental health professionals, educators, legislators, victims and law enforcement to study and make recommendations. They then took the most important step. Zoeller’s team effectively worked to push those recommendations into policy and legislation.

Some of the legislative and policy focus areas I remember included promoting the use of Narcan by first responders, reducing the incidence of babies born dependent on drugs (NAS), decreasing excessive long term use of Methodone in addiction treatment, and encouraging best practices in treatment while those serving sentences are still incarcerated.

The AG’s office made a real difference.

The icing on the cake came when then Governor Mike Pence established his own task force to deal with the issue. Some saw it as “Johnny-come-lately” but many of us saw it as “Atta boy, Governor”. With his endorsement he raised the discussion to a new level in Indiana.

It is just that kind of involvement I am counting on in his relationship with the President.

In fact, I hope more than anything that the Vice President is whispering in the ear of the President now about how successfully Indiana has been addressing the issues. And then, I’m hoping the President directs his pick to head up his task force, Governor Chris Cristie, to take a trip to Indiana.

The author of the same article wrote, “… it’s bizarre that Republicans should be complacent about opioids, because the toll is disproportionately in red states — and it affects everyone.”

Well, Governor Cristi, I see that as an open invitation to come to Indiana!

The present Attorney General, Curtis Hill,jr is again prioritizing the fight against drug addiction. With some of the same team members from Zoeller’s adiministration still on board, I know the chances for continued success are great. I am sure they can help Gov Christie jump start the President’s task force and quicken the whole process of making sweeping changes in national policy and legislation.

It is past time to help reduce these terrible statistics and offer those affected and their families a new start in life.

Well, that’s the view from someone who used to be involved on the inside and now looks at issues from the view outside.