Obama plan would send $19M to Indiana to fight opioid abuse

MUNSTER, Ind. (AP) – Indiana stands to receive $19 million to fight opioid abuse if Congress approves President Barack Obama’s $1.1 billion program to address the problem nationwide.

The (Munster) Times reports that 450 Indiana residents died in 2014 from overdoses of opioids, which include heroin and prescription painkillers such as OxyContin and Fentanyl.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates opioid overdoses kill 78 Americans each day.

According to the Pew Research Center, Indiana has one of the country’s worst shortages of substance abuse specialists.

The White House organized a conference call with reporters Friday to promote Obama’s plan.

On the call, Jodie Hicks of Lafayette, Indiana, described her struggle to get her son treatment for his heroin addiction. The closest methadone clinic is 60 miles away in Indianapolis.