Opioid addiction is a serious problem across the country. One of the states hardest hit by the opioid epidemic in Indiana. The situation has only worsened over the years.
According to the CDC, opioid overdose deaths in Indiana have been on the increase from 1700 in 2019 to more than 2000 in 2020. This figure has almost doubled since 2010 and now the number of people dying from opioid overdose has surpassed those dying from car accidents in the state. To add to this grim statistic, there are nearly 1,500 opioid-related hospitalizations across Indiana.
These numbers show that Indiana is in a bad place as far as opioid addiction goes. To put things into further perspective, let’s see what impact the opioid addiction epidemic has had on the state.
Economic Impact
According to some estimates, the opioid epidemic has cost Indiana more than $43 billion in both direct and indirect costs. This isn’t a modest figure by any measure and it’s hard to imagine that addiction could have done all that damage.
However, when you start breaking it down and adding opioid-related costs to the government, hospitals, and families, you see the negative impact that addiction can have on a state’s economy.
For instance, opioid addiction has led to a reduction of people in the labor force either through death or incarceration. Additionally, those struggling with addiction in the workplace end up costing the employer through absenteeism or increased accidents at work. The latter results in an increase in workman’s compensation and increased insurance costs.
The opioid epidemic has also led to an increase in hospitalization costs. Those who overdose on opioids and survive have to be hospitalized and in 2016 such hospitalizations added up to over $224 million. You also have to take into account rehabilitation costs, funeral costs, and the cost of arrests and court cases. All these end up straining public services and resources.
Social Impact
Like other drugs, addiction to opioids can hurt society. Those struggling with addiction often end up with financial problems. The search for money can drive people to commit crimes directly or indirectly. In this way, addiction leads to an increase in crimes, criminal behavior, and crime.
Additionally, exposure to opioids, especially at home, can lead teens and young people to experiment with drugs. According to research, young people in Indiana aged 18-25 years were exposed to opioids and ended up experimenting with non-medical use of these prescription drugs. Left unchecked, some of these young people may develop tolerance and dependence on opioids.
Perhaps one of the grim impacts of the opioid epidemic in Indiana has been the increase in cases of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). This refers to infants who are exposed to opioids while in their mothers’ wombs and who go on to experience withdrawal symptoms soon after birth after losing access to their mother’s drugs.
The opioid epidemic has also affected children. More than 5,000 children in foster care in Indiana are there because of parental opioid misuse. These children have had to be separated from their loved ones because of drug use, causing untold trauma in their lives.
This exposure to drugs, alcohol, and addiction at a young and impressionable age increases the likelihood that these children may also end up experimenting or using drugs at some point in the future.
Impact on Health Care Systems and Opioid Addiction Treatment
Unfortunately, Indiana has poor funding for public health and this has led to the increasing opioid crisis in the state. Poor healthcare funding means that most of the people who require addiction treatment don’t receive the care they need.
While some are unable to access addiction treatment because of the costs, others fail to do so because the rehab facilities are too far from home.
To overcome opioid addiction, medically-assisted treatment is necessary. This is the combination of behavioral counseling with FDA-approved medication. Without such treatment, those struggling with opioid addiction are likely to overdose or relapse.
However, all is not lost as Indiana has made considerable effort to improve addiction treatment access. For instance, Indiana is among the few states that have implemented Narcan vending machines.
Narcan is an approved medication that helps to quickly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. The number of rehab facilities such as Evolve Indy that deal with opioid addiction has also been on the increase. This helps increase access to addiction treatment while also preventing more deaths from opioid use disorder.
Stigmas and Barriers to Treatment
Many of those struggling with opioid addiction in Indiana are hesitant to seek out treatment fearing judgment and criticism because of the stigma surrounding addiction. Addiction is still viewed as a choice, not an illness, and the misconception that those who are addicted to opioids lack self-discipline and self-control is still strong.
To overcome this stigma, Indiana has several initiatives designed to educate people on opioid use disorder and other addictions. These initiatives show that addiction is a health condition or chronic illness and with proper treatment, it’s possible to conquer it.
We Are Here to Help
Overcoming opioid addiction may be challenging but it’s possible with the right care and support. Evolve Indy is the premier addiction treatment center in Indiana. We are dedicated to providing safe, comfortable, and confidential addiction treatment services to those struggling with opioid addiction in Indiana and beyond.
We have a range of addiction treatment programs including partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient drug rehab, and outpatient drug treatment. These are designed to fit in with the client’s severity of addiction as well as their lifestyle.
Our treatment programs make use of individualized treatment plans and evidence-based treatment methods including individual and group therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy, among others. We also have a family therapy program for families that have been torn apart by opioid addiction.
Contact us today and let us help you overcome opioid addiction.