Prescription Drug Abuse Is A Growing Problem In Indiana

Staff and faculty at CHP do ongoing research on substance abuse in Indiana and its effects. Much of the research for this report was taken from work completed for the Indiana Office of the Governor and the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction and funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), as part of the Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant (SPF SIG) Program.

The Arc of Indiana

The Arc of Indiana (The Arc) and the Indiana University Center for Health Policy (CHP) have entered into a partnership to determine the reasons for and solutions to the lack of minorities entering careers that serve people with disabilities. Data shows that if there were more minorities working with people with disabilities, minorities with disabilities would access available services and have better outcomes (Wright, 1993, p. 32). Particular attention will be paid to the Hispanic and African American communities. The project will focus on the entire state of Indiana. The project will consist of two parts: analysis of the issues and development of recommendations to attract more minorities into the disability serving workforce.

In order to fully understand the intricacies of the problem, project staff will conduct a literature review of the research that has been done on the topic. Staff will also conduct a series of focus groups across Indiana where individuals with disabilities, current staff, and the agencies that employ them will have an opportunity to contribute their experience. The CHP will issue a report describing the scope and breadth of the problem as well as recommended solutions in the fall of 2008.