Washington, D.C. — Following U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly’s reintroduction of bipartisan legislation to combat heroin use and prescription drug abuse epidemics with Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), more than a half dozen Indiana organizations, including law enforcement and other groups, announced today they endorse the effort. The Heroin and Prescription Opioid Abuse Prevention, Education, and Enforcement Act of 2015 has earned the support of: the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP); the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD); HVAF of Indiana; Drug Free Marion County; The Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY); Overdose-Lifeline, Inc.; Hope OVERcoming Heroin; the Indiana Drug Enforcement Association; and the Alcohol and Addictions Resource Center.
Donnelly said, “I welcome the support from Indiana organizations for our bipartisan legislation to combat the prescription drug abuse and heroin use epidemics and thank them for all they are doing in this effort. Fighting these epidemics will take all of us—at the local, state, and federal level—working together. We will continue to build support for this legislation and work to make progress in addressing the growing heroin and prescription drug abuse epidemics in Indiana and across the country.”
Chief Anthony Ciriello, Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police, said, “The Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police supports Senator Donnelly’s legislative effort to combat heroin and prescription drug abuse through this bill. Indiana has not only seen an increase in the abuse of both heroin and prescription drugs, but this year we have seen an alarming number of new HIV cases directly associated with the sharing of needles by heroin users. The rapid rise in new HIV cases has created great concern for the health and safety of our residents, health care workers and first responders. Overdose deaths from prescription drug abuse continues to be the number one cause of drug related deaths in Indiana, overshadowing all illegal drugs combined. Combating these issues requires a consorted effort of state and federal officials and resources, Senator Donnelly has reached out to local law enforcement agencies for input on this legislation as we at the local level are the first boots on the ground in our own communities to deal with these issues.”
IMPD Chief Rick Hite, said, “I think we have proven the lifesaving benefits of having first responders able to administer naloxone. It has and will continue to save lives. We believe in education and prevention of prescription drug abuse. Senator Donnelly and Senator Ayotte’s Senate bill is an excellent step in addressing prescription opioid abuse and heroin use.”
Cindy Thomas, Executive Vice President of HVAF of Indiana, said, “We are grateful to Senators Ayotte and Donnelly for their leadership as Indiana and many states across our nation battle a heroin and opioid abuse epidemic. We have seen firsthand the devastating effects of opioid abuse with our veterans at HVAF, and we are hopeful this legislation will help generate sufficient awareness and resources to battle this epidemic.”
Randy Miller, Executive Director, Drug Free Marion County, said, “Drug Free Marion County supports comprehensive measures and timely methods to address the opiate and heroin epidemic that is ravaging Indianapolis and other communities across the country. Being actively involved in local efforts to halt the waste of human lives to the disease of addiction and overdose deaths that sometimes are a result, we believe there is an urgent need for all of us to take actions that will reduce and prevent this unfolding tragedy that is impacting our health, welfare and safety. We applaud Senator Donnelly and Senator Ayotte for promoting ways the federal government can assist local law enforcement and others in implementing effective strategies to curb the harmful consequences of the abuse of prescription pain medicines and heroin.”
Mindi Goodpaster, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Marion County Commission on Youth, said, “The Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY) applauds Senator Donnelly’s introduction of the Heroin and Prescription Opioid Abuse Prevention, Education, and Enforcement Act. Indiana has a growing problem of heroin and prescription drug abuse among youth and additional resources are necessary to effectively provide affordable and accessible treatment options to them. This act will not only help adults who are abusing pain medications, but through education and awareness, will also address the access that youth have to their parents’ prescription medications. This act will create a more comprehensive effort to address the complex problem of substance abuse and addiction in Indiana and across the country.”
Justin Phillips, mother to Aaron Sims who died of a heroin overdose in October 2013 and founder of the non-profit Overdose-Lifeline, Inc., said, “Overdose-Lifeline, Inc. fully supports this bill from Senator Donnelly and Senator Aytotte and we are extremely thankful for the federal support in this fight against opioid addiction and loss of life. Indiana recently passed a layperson Naloxone bill named after my son, Aaron’s Law. We now join over twenty states with this legislation. This bill from Senator Donnelly and Senator Ayotte will provide the necessary foundation between the local, state and federal partners to save lives from heroin and opiate addictions.”
Gina Bardach, President, Hope OVERcoming Heroin, said, “With the continued rise in heroin overdoses and overdose deaths in Indiana, Hope OVERcoming Heroin finds it imperative that education about the connection between opioid use and heroin use become a forefront in drug education. The only possible way to fight this fast moving epidemic is to create a solid campaign of awareness and education along with allowing law enforcement, along with first responders, to be able to have to the needed tools to save these people. As the president of Hope OVERcoming Heroin, it my mission to help both Senator Donnelly and Senator Ayotte move swiftly to help break the stigma, create awareness and educate kids and families alike about the relation between prescription drugs and heroin. Being a resident of Indiana, it is my goal to get across this state county by county to help these leaders to create better understanding, without prevention measures, the epidemic will only grow. We absolutely have to stop losing young people! An entire generation will be lost without every effort from great leaders who care, like these two Senators.”
The Ayotte-Donnelly bill would take a multi-pronged approach to help prevent opioid abuse and overdose deaths, building on similar legislation they introduced last year. The Ayotte-Donnelly bill aims to: better enable healthcare providers and public health officials to prevent prescription drug abuse; support law enforcement efforts to get heroin off the streets; allow more first responders access to life-saving Naloxone, and raise awareness among health care providers, patients, and the public regarding prescription opioid abuse and heroin.
