Health problems related to opioid use are being tracked by the Indiana State Department of Health. County-level statistics on things like opioid overdoses resulting in a trip to the emergency room or death, as well as diseases like Hepatitis C that may indicate the sharing of needles, are all included in the new county opioid profiles.
Locally, Marshall County saw a decline in the rate of overdose deaths between 2011 and 2015, but experienced an increase in its rate of nonfatal emergency department visits due to opioid overdoses. Meanwhile, chronic Hepatitis C rates are heading down.
State Health Commissioner Dr. Jerome Adams says the goal of the data profiles is to help local governments and nonprofit organizations better assess their community’s needs and protect residents.
