Gov. Mike Pence is establishing a drug task force by executive order. At an announcement this morning, Pence called the initiative a "collaborative approach to addressing substance abuse."
The task force includes multiple state agencies, representatives from all three branches of government, medical experts and drug treatment and prevention specialists.
The governor says the newly-created drug task force will identify gaps in enforcement, treatment and prevention and develop solutions for the state.
"How do we make sure that the efforts that are happening at the local level are better coordinated with efforts that are happening at the state and even the national level?" he said during a press conference.
The governor also says his message to the task force is one of urgency. He wants recommendations that could both be implemented immediately through administration action and next year through legislation.
From 2003 to 2013,the most recent year for which data is available, heroin overdose deaths increased by nearly 5,000 percent. The Hoosier State ranks 16th highest in the country for all drug overdoses.
The governor says Indiana can't "arrest our way out of this problem." Still, he says addressing the issue begins with law enforcement.
"First and foremost: if you are dealing in drugs in this state, we're coming for you," Pence said.
In a statement, Indiana Democratic Party Chair John Zody criticized the governor for regularly being late to the game when it comes to health and well-being issues.
Senate Minority Leader Tim Lanane also said he's skeptical that Pence will do the right thing, criticizing the governor's support for what Lanane calls the failed war on drugs.
Indianapolis Republican Senator Jim Merritt, a member of the task force, says regardless of what the group recommends, he will sponsor legislation next session to increase criminal penalties for drug dealers. The General Assembly lowered those penalties in its recent criminal code reform.
Over the next three months, the task force will travel the state to host meetings in the north, south and central regions. The meetings will include testimony from local experts and families affected by drug abuse. After the meetings the task force will prepare a report and submit recommendations to the governor's office.
