Governor Mike Pence has directed state agencies to act on five recommendations provided during the second meeting of the Governor’s Task Force on Drug Enforcement, Treatment, and Prevention. At the second Task Force meeting on October 16, 2015, a list of action items were discussed and accepted for recommendation to the Governor. Today, the Governor took the following actions:
- Directed the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to identify gaps in Naloxone availability compared with overdose demographics.
- Directed the Indiana State Department of Health Commissioner, Dr. Jerome Adams, to convene a working group of Task Force members to send recommendations on improvements and best practices based on the testimony and discussions the Task Force has had related to INSPECT to the INSPECT Oversight Committee. This working group will include a representative from the Professional Licensing Agency.
- Directed that the chronic pain prescribing rules currently going through the rulemaking process be promulgated with all expediency for the State Board of Nursing, Physician Assistant Committee, Board of Podiatric Medicine, and the State Board of Dentistry.
- Requested that the Commission for Improving the Status of Children make recommendations through its Educational Outcomes Task Force and Substance Abuse and Child Safety Task Force on developing age appropriate substance abuse curriculum for students and finding ways to better connect affected youth with substance abuse services.
- Direct the Indiana State Department of Health to work with the appropriate entities, including those that represent physicians, nurses, dentists, physician assistants, podiatrists, and veterinarians, to develop guidelines for prescribing acute pain medications.
“The latest recommendations from the Task Force are another step in the right direction, and I am very thankful to the members and experts who have weighed in throughout the process,†said Governor Pence. “These steps will help Indiana better address the scourge of drug addiction that is a source of heartbreak for far too many Hoosier families and as such, I am directing all relevant state agencies to follow through on the recommendations of the Task Force.â€
The next meeting for the Governor’s Task Force on Drug Enforcement, Treatment, and Prevention is November 19, 2015. For additional information about the Task Force, including a list of resources, post-meeting recordings, minutes, presentation materials, and upcoming agendas, please visit: www.drugtaskforce.in.gov.
