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Indiana Prevention Resource Center (IPRC)

Partnerships for Success Initiative

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration was awarded  $2,674,187 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for Indiana's Partnerships for Success Initiative which will direct critical resources to reduce prescription drug misuse among persons aged 12 to 25 in areas hardest hit by this growing epidemic. The Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addictions will help communities implement prevention efforts that reduce misuse by reducing access and availability of prescription drugs for non-medical use, as well as increasing awareness of the risks of misuse.

Indiana residents report higher rates of prescription medication misuse in the past year than national rates, with 8.2% of 12-17 year olds, 13.9% of 18-25 year olds, and 4.0% of 26 and older. National rates were 6.5%, 11.9%, and 3.4% respectively. Indiana ranks 19th in the nation for drug overdose deaths. DMHA is targeting five Indiana Counties. These communities rank in the top 10% of all Indiana counties for either rates of arrests for sale or possession of prescription drugs, or for the number of opioid prescriptions filled per capita. The counties range from very rural to suburban. All but one of the counties has median household incomes below the state level.

The Initiative's goals are to:

  • Increase the number of pharmacists and physicians registered to use the INSPECT system (Indiana Board of Pharmacy's online prescription drug monitoring program).
  • Increase the number of times the INSPECT system is used by pharmacists and physicians to monitor opioid medication dispensations for patients.
  • Increase the percentage of 12 - 25 year olds who report believing that there is moderate or great risk of harm if a person uses prescription drugs that do not belong to them.
  • Increase the percentage of 12 - 25 year olds who report that their peers would think it is wrong or very wrong if they used prescription drugs not prescribed to them.
  • Decrease the percentage of 12 - 25 year olds who report using prescription drugs not prescribed to them in the past month.

DMHA will work with the Indiana Prevention Resource Center to guide community coalitions through the Strategic Prevention Framework using a highly interactive process of training, technical assistance, and evaluation feedback. This includes assistance with assessment and data, capacity building, strategic planning, selection of appropriate evidence-based strategies, implementation and evaluation. DMHA will collaborate with the Indiana Board of Pharmacy's online prescription drug monitoring program (INSPECT) to provide additional enforcement personnel and trainings to healthcare providers, pharmacists and the public. Officers will monitor the volume of drugs prescribed by healthcare providers, and look for “doctor shoppers” by examining the numbers of prescribers or pharmacies visited.



By Rosie King and Courtney Stewart, 10/10/2012