Indianapolis – Governor Mike Pence today joined 45 governors in signing the Compact to Fight Opioid Addiction, which summarizes the actions needed to address the factors contributing to opioid addiction. The compact, which was developed by and released through the National Governors Association (NGA), stems from a resolution passed at the NGA Winter Meeting in February. By signing the compact, governors are agreeing to redouble their efforts to fight the opioid epidemic in their respective states.
“Ten months after the launch of our Task Force on Drug Enforcement, Treatment, and Prevention, Indiana has made tremendous strides to combat the scourge of drug abuse in our communities,†said Governor Pence. “As we look forward to serving those struggling with mental health and addiction at our new state-of-the-art neuro-diagnostic institute and launch the Indiana Commission to Combat Drug Abuse to continue the conversation of our task force, we are dedicating ourselves to this cause for the long haul and are grateful for the opportunity to work in partnership with other governors across the country.â€
On September 1, 2015, Governor Pence created the Governor’s Task Force on Drug Enforcement, Treatment and Prevention, which consists of experts from a variety of specialties tasked with developing a comprehensive approach to addressing drug problems in Indiana. In June, the Task Force endorsed a set of opioid and controlled substance prescribing guidelines for emergency departments as part of a larger strategy to combat prescription drug abuse in Indiana. Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 271, enacted during the previous session of the Indiana General Assembly, established 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.
