What are friends for?

The Marion County Public Health Department is working to change the stigma around substance use disorder and reduce opioid-related overdose deaths in Marion County by helping raise awareness and understanding of this disease.

Funded by the National Association of County and City Health Officials’ Implementing Overdose Prevention Strategies at the Local Level (IOPSLL) grant, the Marion County Public Health Department was chosen to implement prevention and response strategies to help communities save lives.

For more information on the National Association of County and City Health Officials’ IOPSLL grant, please visit www.naccho.org.

Substance Use Disorder

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a chronic medical condition that requires treatment and can affect anyone. The information on this site is meant to provide education and information about how to get help for someone experiencing SUD or an opioid-related overdose.

The Marion County Public Health Department’s “What are friends for?” ad campaign features two former SUD patients – Richard and Jeannie. The campaign aims to show compassion and understanding can change the stigma around this disorder and provide resources to those in need. View the television commercials below.

The Marion County Public Health Department Substance Use Outreach Services (SUOS) Program offers prevention and supportive services that reflect the needs and interests of the community. Learn more by visiting the Substance Use Outreach Services website.

NALOXONE

Naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan®, is a non-narcotic, legal medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Naloxone is available at pharmacies and other locations in Marion County and can be obtained by anyone who believes someone they know is at risk of an opioid overdose. Naloxone has been proven effective in reversing overdoses caused by heroin and prescription medications such as OxyContin, Percocet, Methadone and Vicodin.

Learn more about Marion County Public Health Department’s Substance Use Outreach Services Program as well as how to obtain and administer naloxone to someone who is experiencing an overdose at the SUOS website.

Opioids are often the gateway to other legal or illegal substance use. Recent opioid-related incidents in Marion County include:

In 2016, Marion County’s rate for emergency department opioid-related visits per 100,000 residents was 192.7, compared to the statewide average 104.5.
In 2017, opioid-specific overdose mortality increased to 33.8% versus 9.1% in 2010 in Marion County.
Since 2013, Indiana has consistently placed in the top half of U.S. states and territories for the rate of drug overdoses.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only one Naloxone prescription is dispensed for every 70 high-dose opioid prescriptions.