Indiana Attorney General's Office Prioritizes Public Health, Public Safety, and Public Trust in 2014

Strategic Insights -

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller's office focused on four initiatives in 2014, targeting prescription drug abuse, human trafficking, public corruption, and youth smoking. These efforts aimed to improve public health, safety, and trust in government. The initiatives demonstrated a collaborative approach, engaging with other agencies, nonprofits, and constituents to tackle pressing issues affecting Hoosiers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Indiana Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force, co-chaired by AG Zoeller, educated medical providers, pharmacists, and the public about the risks of opioid prescription drugs, leading to an 11 percent decline in opioid prescriptions in Indiana.
  • The task force conducted seminars and webinars, resulting in nearly 800 attendees at the 5th Annual Prescription Drug Abuse Symposium.
  • House Enrolled Act 1218 reduced the time for pharmacies to forward controlled substance dispensing information to the state's prescription monitoring program, INSPECT.
  • The Indiana General Assembly passed Senate Enrolled Act 227, removing civil liability for first responders carrying naloxone kits and administering the life-saving treatment to individuals who have overdosed.
  • The statewide public awareness campaign, funded through pharmaceutical litigation settlements, aimed to educate Hoosiers about the potential addictive nature of certain prescription drugs.
  • The Attorney General's Office, in collaboration with the IPATH Task Force, trained 1,924 people on identifying and preventing human trafficking in 2014.
  • Senate Enrolled Act 291 clarified the AG's Office's role in assisting human trafficking investigations.
  • The "Don't Buy the Lie" initiative raised public awareness about human trafficking and prostitution.
  • The AG's Office created a new unit focused on human trafficking prevention, services for victims, and protection of vulnerable populations.
  • The Public Integrity Coalition was launched to educate and train local government officials on best practices for managing taxpayers' money and reducing public corruption.
  • Attorney General Zoeller raised awareness about the potential health risks of e-cigarettes and the need for regulations on their sale and marketing.

Statistics:

  • 11 percent decline in opioids prescribed to patients in Indiana, following implementation of new emergency prescribing rules.
  • 1,924 people trained on identifying and preventing human trafficking in 2014.
  • 95 tips reported to law enforcement about suspected human trafficking in 2014.
  • 4 federal indictments brought related to human trafficking in 2014.
  • Over $4.6 million recovered in misappropriated public money through civil lawsuits and collections.
  • 152 attorneys and 218 non-lawyer staff employees of the Office of the Attorney General contributed to the four special initiatives in 2014.

Sources:

  • http://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/2963.htm
  • http://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/3058.htm
  • http://www.VoiceIndiana.org