Drug Free Howard County on Substance Abuse Prevention

08/28/2025

International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) Toolkit
Public Health
Aug. 20, 2025
Purpose
August 31 marks International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD), a global campaign to end overdose.
In 2025, CDC is highlighting the concerning rise in stimulant-involved overdose deaths, noting that stimulants are now involved in most fatal overdoses, often in combination with opioids.
Remember loved ones who have died from drug overdose and acknowledge the grief of those left behind.
End overdose by sharing prevention strategies.
Many voices, one family: a collective call to end overdose.
Overdose awareness is important
Each year, August 31st marks International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD), the world's largest annual campaign to end overdose.

This IOAD, we encourage unity and collective action against overdose.

Overdose knows no boundaries, so our efforts must connect the many voices impacted by overdoses.
We are united in grief, empowered together to transform loss into hope and action.
Hashtags:

The goals of IOAD are to:
Honor the lives of loved ones who have died from overdose.
Show support to people who use drugs and those in recovery that they are valued.
Continue to raise awareness about the risks of drug overdose.
Share information on available prevention, treatment and recovery support services.
Promote evidence-based practices and strategies to prevent and reduce drug-related harms.

August 31 marks IOAD, a global campaign to end overdose. Partner with us to empower your community.

08/08/2025

400 doses of Narcan boosts overdose response for southern Indiana first responders

https://www.wdrb.com/community/400-doses-of-narcan-boosts-overdose-response-for-southern-indiana-first-responders/article_5b7152cc-c5d6-4de6-90af-ff889d9b31ce.html

Overdose Prevention
As the leading membership organization representing local health departments (LHDs), NACCHO recognizes that people who use drugs deserve dignity, care, and the right to make informed choices about their health and well-being. We understand that drug overdose represents a significant public health concern requiring compassionate, community-centered responses. NACCHO supports local health departments in developing evidence-based policies and programs that prioritize the health and safety of people who use drugs, reduce health disparities, and strengthen community partnerships to address the complex factors contributing to overdose and related health outcomes.
https://www.naccho.org/programs/community-health/injury-and-violence/overdose

06/06/2025

https://view.subscription.in.gov/?qs=fd8b0a406ced4803246afcacbb944a9e50a65f588db138b2bd5e4a4ed9728e672b45b428b79910c1170945ef440a7c339c5c39fff0c37ea9aea3bce789900b3951a3163c3e4772fa5bdb0eac23e120b7

04/23/2025

The Howard County Youth Council activity at the mall - Wednesday 4/16/25

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.

03/27/2025

02/25/2025

Drug Overdose Prevention Newsletter
Feb. 11, 2025
Updates

Comprehensive Pain Management ECHO

Register for the Comprehensive Pain Management (CPM) ECHO to learn best practices at the intersection of pain management, substance use disorder (SUD), and harm reduction. Sessions are held virtually for 75 minutes on the first and third Mondays of each month. The collaborative ECHO environment helps clinical and public health professionals stay updated with effective and community-oriented harm reduction, SUD, and pain management strategies.

The ECHO training curriculum focuses on managing pain while identifying and minimizing the risks associated with opioid and stimulant use. Each ECHO session brings together an interprofessional cohort of health professionals—including physicians, pharmacists, advanced practice providers, physical therapists, social workers, case managers and more.

Participants can earn free continuing education credits.

Email Program Management Specialist Nor Bouzar at nbouzar@iu.edu.

Click here for more information

A free online training teaches Indiana residents how to reverse overdoses

A free online training from the Indiana University Citizen Opioid Responders (COR) Program teaches Indiana residents how to use naloxone, also known by its brand name Narcan, a life saving medication to reverse opioid overdoses. The training takes roughly 30 minutes and covers topics including naloxone administration, scene safety and Good Samaritan laws.

Click here for more information

Pretrial, Prosecution, Defense Counsel, and Courts Mentoring Initiative Mentor Site

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and RTI International are seeking mentor sites to share their best practices and expertise with diverting justice-involved persons with substance use disorders to community-based treatment or connecting individuals to treatment and support services during the pretrial and court adjudication phases of justice processing. This program is part of the training and technical assistance (TTA) resources available to jurisdictions through BJA’s Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP).

Visit https://cossup.org/Learn/PeerToPeer/PPDCC for application details.

Application available here

Events

“Coffee Break” Networking for Substance Misuse Prevention Professional
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 19
Time: 10:15–10:30 a.m. CT
Location: Online

Looking for a quick and easy way to connect with fellow substance misuse prevention professionals? This series of casual, 15-minute networking sessions is designed to spark conversation and collaboration. Bring your coffee (or tea) and dive into small breakout rooms where you’ll discuss a “topic of the day” with like-minded individuals who share your passion for making a difference. It’s an opportunity to share insights, exchange ideas, and build meaningful connections — all in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Don’t miss out on these bite-sized networking moments that could lead to big opportunities.

Click to register

Uncovering What Does NOT Work in Substance Misuse Prevention
Date: Thursday, Feb. 20
Time: 12:30-2 p.m. CT
Location: Online

In the world of substance misuse prevention, we often hear about what works — research-backed strategies that make a real impact. But what about the methods that don't work? Surprisingly, many communities continue to use outdated, ineffective, or even harmful prevention practices despite decades of research showing they fail to deliver. This webinar will explore the common yet misguided approaches still in use, shedding light on why they don’t work and the unintended consequences they can create. It will also dive into practical strategies for prevention professionals to overcome the resistance they often face when challenging long-held beliefs and entrenched practices.
Click to register

Take 10! Transforming Care for Women with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) and Their Families, Topic 4 (Training Session): SUDs Treatment for Women with Children
Date: Tuesday, March 4
Time: 10 a.m.- noon CT
Location: Online

This two-hour training session will introduce participants to the emotional, physical, and socioeconomic factors that uniquely impact women during treatment, and especially how these factors relate to the treatment of SUDs for women with children.
Click to register

The Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program's (COSSUP) purpose is to provide financial and technical assistance to states, units of local government, and Indian tribal governments to plan, develop, and implement comprehensive efforts to identify, respond to, treat, and support tho...

01/03/2025

Watch this page for additional updates.

12/27/2024

The 2025 grant application will be updated soon, however you can download 2024s and become familiar with the requirements to receive a grant for assisting in substance abuse prevention in Howard County Indiana.

12/19/2024

Here's some addiction education: