Drug overdoses are going down in Indiana, and while the data is encouraging, it’s too late for a mother who lost her son to a heroin overdose.
The state saw a roughly 18% drop in drug use in the 12 months ending December 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Justin Phillips, founder and CEO of the nonprofit Overdose Lifeline, said after losing his son, he turned his grief toward advocacy, education and support for others struggling with addiction.
“I learned that hydrocodone and heroin are the same drug, just with different chemical compositions, and all of this stuff that I didn’t know, being a pretty educated person,” Phillips said. “So I knew I had to do something about my grief and my feelings of loss.”
According to a 2021 Indiana State Department of Health report, opioids are the most common substance responsible for overdose deaths.
Public health officials have warned that the number of deaths related to non-opioid substances such as cocaine, benzodiazepines and amphetamines will increase.
Eliminating the stigma, shame and misconceptions behind substance abuse related to opioid use disorder is another goal of Overdose Lifeline.
Thanks to Phillips’ efforts, lawmakers passed Aaron’s Law, named after her late son, in 2015.
But she said she would like to see more legislation to thwart the criminalization of syringe possession and clarify the code on fentanyl testing strips.
“People with substance use disorders inject, and we need to support them, not punish them,” Phillips said. “Secondly, we want to clarify the language so that people are not afraid to use fentanyl testing strips and can test before they use drugs without fear of criminal penalties.”
She acknowledged that most people refuse to accept the fact that substance abuse is a chronic illness and that people need help, not judgment.
In 2022, 43 people per 100,000 Indiana residents will die from a drug overdose, according to a report from the National Center for Health Statistics.
