Commission Begins Work to Attack the Drug Epidemic

Commission Begins Work to Attack the Drug Epidemic

Indiana’s Commission to Combat Drug Abuse on Friday took initial steps to act on Governor Eric J. Holcomb’s call for the state to attack the drug epidemic.

View the entire meeting online at https://indiana.adobeconnect.com/p5eng4tixwh/​.

This was the group’s first meeting under the leadership of Jim McClelland, Indiana’s newly appointed Executive Director of Drug Treatment, Prevention and Enforcement.

Meeting Highlights

• The commission created two working groups. One group was charged to coordinate grant applications to secure support for substance abuse prevention and treatment efforts in local communities. The other group will identify and gather the data needed to target resources and attention where they can have the greatest impact.

• Representatives from the Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services and the Indiana Department of Corrections shared successful programs that provide comprehensive drug abuse treatment for Hoosiers.

• Commission Chairman Jim McClelland directed members to complete two action items before the next meeting:

1. Identify and provide three metrics that should be a part of the state’s efforts to attack the drug epidemic.
2. Provide a report of resources dedicated to programs and services that touch the drug epidemic.

The Commission to Combat Drug Abuse was created by the General Assembly in 2016, and Governor Holcomb created the new position of Executive Director for Drug Treatment, Prevention and Enforcement by executive order his first day in office.