New research from the University of Indiana reveals the shocking reality of the substance abuse in the state of Indiana. It was revealed that a staggering 63% of residents in Indiana know someone who struggles with substance abuse.
The problem particular centres around opioids, with 50% claiming that opioids are the substance most negatively impacting the state. This is evident in the fact that 25% admit they have a friend with an addiction to them. Nearly one in five have a family member addicted to opioids, with 5% admitting their child (age 18 or over) is addicted to the drug.
94% of the 603 Indiana residents are aware of the unfolding opioid crisis in the state but 79% believe not enough is being done to solve the problem.
The people of Indiana believe doctors and medical professionals (64%) are the group that bear the responsibility when it comes to solving the opioid crisis, followed by friends and family (48%), elected government officials (47%) and law enforcement (42%).
77% agreed that responders (firefighters, police and EMS workers) should be equipped with naloxone to treat an opioid overdose.
More than half of respondents agreed that Syringe/needle exchange programs should also be available in the State to help tackle the problem.
With the high level of personal experience with the drug it’s no surprise that 71% expressed a high to moderate level of sympathy towards those who suffer from a substance addiction. But this sympathy varied depending on the substance itself. Residents were most sympathetic of addiction to alcohol (70%), followed by opioids (68%), tobacco (53%) and finally amphetamines (43%).
View the full case study here to find out how we carried out this research and the coverage it generated.
