INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mike Pence does not seem to be bound by the same urgency directive he gave his drug task force when it comes to implementing their solutions for Indiana's drug abuse crisis.
Two weeks after the Governor's Task Force on Drug Enforcement, Treatment and Prevention recommended three immediate action items that mostly just raise awareness of the problem, Pence on Friday finally ordered state agencies to carry them out.
“When I established the (task force), I asked the members to act with urgency to develop recommendations to confront the scourge of drug abuse that is affecting communities all across our state, and I'm grateful that they've done just that," Pence said. "I have directed our agencies to aggressively and creatively move forward on implementation."
The task force recommended Indiana seek flexibility to use existing federal Medicaid funds for drug treatment, promote more widespread use of naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal drug, and to study youth assistance programs.
The panel declined to urge action on experts’ recommendations that Indiana increase investment in drug treatment and mental health care. This was despite warnings the state already has too few clinics and a dearth of practitioners to meet Hoosier needs.
"If we're ever going to have any hopes of addressing this issue, of getting a grip on it and properly addressing it, we're going to have to look for money," said state Sen. Jim Arnold, D-LaPorte, a task force member. "If we can't come up with it we're not going to make much headway."
The Republican-controlled General Assembly in April directed an additional $30 million be spent over the next two years to improve mental health and drug treatment in the state.
But Pence, a Republican, has yet not said precisely how he plans to spend that money.
The task force is set to hold its second meeting Oct. 15 in Evansville and a final session Nov. 19 in South Bend.
"As the task force continues to move forward, Hoosiers can be confident that my administration is committed to addressing drug abuse in a comprehensive manner," Pence said.