Expanding addiction treatment remains a House Republican legislative focus this session, and lawmakers are examining a variety of proposals addressing illegal drug use in Indiana, including:
- House Bill 1006 would broaden mental health and addiction treatment options for those charged with misdemeanor offenses and for newborns with neonatal abstinence syndrome.
- House Bill 1019Â would add U-47700, an opioid that is reported to be seven times more potent than morphine and is sold online, to the list of banned synthetic drugs.
- House Bill 1282, which I co-authored, would require the Office of the Secretary of Family and Social Services to implement an evidence-based model of social work and substance abuse prevention that includes partnering with elementary and high schools to provide social and emotional support services to children, parents, caregivers, teachers and the community.
- House Bill 1312Â would increase penalties for stealing prescription drugs from a pharmacy. Unfortunately, Indiana now leads the country in pharmacy robberies.
With a 500 percent increase in drug overdose deaths in Indiana since 1999, I remain committed to supporting policies that combat addiction and save Hoosier lives.
Sincerely,
State Rep. Wendy McNamara
