04/08/2025
Drug Overdose Prevention Newsletter
April 8, 2025
Updates
Overdose Lifeline launches new online tool
To commemorate Balloon Day, a event for familes and loved ones across the United States to honor those lost to overdose, an Indianapolis nonprofit is launching an online resource for drug education and harm prevention. "It's important to share these stories," Overdose Lifeline created Knowledge, Advocacy, Trust and Education (KATE), an online chatbot. People can anonymously ask the free tool questions and receive what the group calls “stigma-free” facts. It’s a collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Marion County Public Health Department. According to the CDC, overdoses are a leading cause of injury deaths in the United States. “There’s a need for people to have access to information and resources, particularly harm reduction resources,” said Nicki Cochran, Overdose Lifeline‘s director of research and programs evaluation. “It’s really important that people can receive information so that they can have conversations with their loved ones about drug use.”
For Balloon Day, the nonprofit is encouraging people to “release” virtual balloons on social media with messages of support or stories about a loved one who died of an overdose.
Click here for more information
IN teen drug use stats show greater need for early intervention
Hoosier teens are nearly 3% more likely to have used co***ne, methamphetamines or he**in than other teens nationwide, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, and the types of drugs they choose are producing deadly side effects. Indianapolis-based nonprofit Overdose Lifeline partners with other states to offer substance use prevention education programs. Justin Phillips, founder and CEO of Overdose Lifeline, said young people are sharing prescription drugs like Adderall and Xanax with their peers and dying from su***de and overdoses at alarming rates. She stressed the numbers are preventable. "Onset can be as early as 12, and it varies according to the substance that they're using," Phillips reported. "We have a lot of challenges around va**ng right now, which is a ni****ne and/or a cannabis v**e." Philips advocates for early intervention when abuse is identified to help prevent it from becoming chronic. She added research has shown when a substance is introduced to the brain before age 15, it is five times more likely to alter the brain structure and create an addiction.
Events
Rural Webinar Series—Session 1: Developing Strategic Partnerships in Rural Communities
Date: Tuesday, April 15
Time: 2-3 p.m. ET
Location: Online via Zoom
The Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA) Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program’s (COSSUP) Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Program at the Inst itute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR) invites you to this no-cost webinar. This four-part webinar series invites rural jurisdictions interested in implementing or enhancing Overdose Fatality Reviews to learn from their peers. Each session features multiple sites from rural communities that are demonstrating the innovative work made possible by rural partnerships through OFR.
Substance Use Disorder Community Health Networking and Film Screening Event
Date: Tuesday, April 15
Time: 4:00-7:00pm ET
Location: 40 East Saint Clair Street, Indianapolis
The Indianapolis Public Library, in partnership with the Ruth Lilly Medical Library of the Indiana University School of Medicine, will host a Substance Use Disorder Community Health Networking and Film Screening on April 15, 2025. • The event will feature a public screening of the educational version of the documentary film, "The Addict’s Wake," which tells the story of how substance use disorder has impacted local communities throughout Indiana and explores broader issues with ramifications for neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the country. Prior to the film screening, there will be a community health networking event for local service providers and others who are interested in sharing information with attendees about their services.
Additional Resources
Indiana Drug Overdose Dashboard
Please visit the Indiana Drug Overdose Dashboard, where you will find data from 2017 up to provisional data for 2024. On this dashboard, you will find data regarding opioid prescriptions, hospital discharges, and drug-related deaths. Overdose data is also available at the county and state levels.
Indiana Drug Overdose Dashboard
Naloxone resources
Learn more about the basics of naloxone, where to find it, training opportunities, syringe services and more on the Drug Overdose Prevention website.
IDOH is pleased to offer virtual naloxone administration trainings that are free and self-paced.
Trauma Care Commission
The Trauma Care Commission (TCC) adopted the state’s first Trauma System Plan (TSP) on Aug. 2, 2024. This process began November of 2023 and through many hours of collaboration from various stakeholders, we are able to move the state forward in a corroborated effort to improve the work that has already been started in Trauma care. The TSP can be found on our website.
Beyond Substance Podcast
Beyond Substance is a podcast that seeks to deepen understanding about substance use in Marion County, focusing on the problems and solutions for these issues. Episodes seek to highlight what can be done to foster and support recovery.
