Understanding the Epidemic
- The first wave of the epidemic began in the late 1990s with the increased prescribing of opioids.
- The second wave began in the middle to late 2000s when individuals who could no longer receive legal medications chose to opt for the cheaper alternative of heroin.
- The third wave, beginning in Indiana primarily in 2014, was likely driven by IMF and fentanyl analogs that are an even cheaper and more potent alternative to heroin. An increase in drug case submissions of fentanyl and its analogs was seen by the Indiana State Police prior to the third wave.
Nearly 400,000 Americans died from an opioid overdose between 1999 and 2017.
For scale, that’s nearly three times the population of the Terre Haute metropolitan area.
1990s Prescription Opioids
The first wave began with the increased
prescribing of opioids in the 1990s with
overdose deaths involving prescription
opioids increasing since at least 1999.
2010 Heroin
The second wave began in 2010, with rapid
increases in overdose deaths involving
heroin.
2013 Synthetic Opioids
The Opioid Epidemic by the Numbers
- 5.8% (or about 16.1 million people) reported misusing any prescription psychotherapeutic drug in 2020.
- 0.3% (or about 902,000 people) reported using heroin in 2020.
- 68,630 overdose deaths in 2020
- 0.2% (or about 691,000 people) had a heroin use disorder in 2020
- In 2020, approximately 13,165 people died from an overdose involving heroin.
The Opioid Epidemic | Indiana
- Indiana saw an age-adjusted drug overdose rate of 26.6 per 100,000, a statistically significant 4% increase from 2018. The Indiana 2019 rate was also statistically higher than the national rate of 21.6 per 100,000. From 2018-2019, Indiana had a higher drug overdose rate increase than more than half of the United States according to the CDC1
- The primary driver of overdose deaths is opioids as almost three out of the four Hoosiers who died from an overdose each day involved an opioid
- Indiana has consistently placed in the top half of U.S. states and territories for the highest drug overdose death rate since 2013 and consistently has a higher overdose death rate than the U.S. average
- In 2017, the rate of drug overdose deaths in Indiana (25.7 per 100,000 people) is higher than the national rate (22.4 per 100,000)
- The opioid epidemic was responsible for an estimated $4.3 billion in economic damages in Indiana alone, or $43 billion over the last 15 years.
The Opioid Epidemic | Indiana
December 2014 The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH)
begins documenting a sharp rise in new cases of HIV
emanating from Scott County.
April 2015 The number of newly confirmed HIV infections had
risen to epidemic proportions from 30 to 135 in less than a year
leading then Governor Mike Pence to declare a public health
emergency.
Interviews revealed that 80% of the affected individuals were
abusing substances via intravenous drug use.
Valley Addictions Program (VAP)
Valley Addictions Program (VAP) is a specialized program designed to meet the needs of individuals with substance related disorders. The program’s goal is to provides structured and time-limited treatment which:
• Reduces the symptoms and difficulties associated with substance abuse disorders.
• Develops and maintains a sober lifestyle.
• Repairs the individual’s ability to function in the family, at work, and in the community.
ABOUT| Valley Addictions Program
The program offers a variety of services, including, educational groups, family education, and group therapy. VAP programming is scheduled to last 12-18 months in two separate phases.
Phase One
Semiweekly support group meetings
Biweekly individual counseling sessions
Monthly psychiatric appointment
Phase TWO | relapse prevention
Weekly relapse prevention group meetings
Biweekly individual counseling sessions
Monthly psychiatric appointment
Progression through the phases is based on participation, attendance, and ability to maintain abstinence. Patients will also attend 12-Step Groups (AA or NA) or Celebrate Recovery, which are designed to support ongoing recovery.
Our Goal| Valley Addictions Program
The goal of the Valley Addictions Program (VAP) is to assist our patients in stopping the use of drugs, maintaining a drugfree lifestyle, and repairing our patient’s ability to function within their family environment, at work, and in the community. When deemed medically appropriate, Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) will combine with behavioral health services by utilizing medications as the best way to ensure successful treatment.
*Individuals wishing to participate in VAP must be medically established patients at Valley Professionals.
Pain Management Alternatives
Valley Professionals offers alternative solutions for pain management, including:
• Chiropractic
• Acupuncture
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Medication-Assisted Treatment is an effective treatment for individuals with an opioid use disorder. It involves the use of medication along with counseling and behavioral therapies.
Brain chemistry may contribute to an individual’s mental illness as well as to their treatment. For this reason, medications might be prescribed to help modify one’s brain chemistry.
Medications are used to relieve cravings and withdrawal symptoms, as well as block the euphoric effects of opioids.
American Psychiatric Association
Signs & Symptoms
• Persistent, unsuccessful attempts to cut down or control opioid use
• Important relationships are strained, or those people are annoyed, and it relates directly to your opioid drug use
• You are experiencing guilt about your drug use and its consequences
• You experience a compulsion or strong urge(s) to used opioids as soon as you get out of bed or shortly after.
Recovery is Possible
Don’t wait, get help now. Resources are available to you.
1 (765) 828-1003 Valley Addictions Program (VAP) at Valley Professionals
1 (800) 662-HELP (4357) Indiana Addiction Hotline
To connect with help 24/7, call 2-1-1
Many of those struggling with addiction are people we know – our family members, our friends, our coworkers, our neighbors. They face a wide range of stigmas that may prevent them from seeking treatment.
Whether you or someone you know love is suffering from addiction, the more you know about opioid and substance use disorders, the more compassionate and supportive person you can be.
State of Indiana NextLevel Recovery
Sources
2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health
https://www.in.gov/health/overdose-prevention/data/indiana/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose
Harold Kooreman, MA; Marion Greene, MPH, PhD(c) Center for Health Policy, Indiana University Richard M Fairbanks School of Public Health at
IUPUI “Injection Drug Use in Indiana: A Major Risk for HIV Transmission.” Improving Community Health Through Policy Research, January 2016, pp.
1-16.
Http://www.hhs.gov/opioids/
2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Mortality in the United States, 2018
NCHS Data Brief No. 329, November 2018
State of Indiana NextLevel Recovery https://www.in.gov/recovery/know-the-facts/
