Knowledge - Mayor's Substance Abuse Task Force

Being part of the Evansville community binds us together.

The Mayor’s Substance Abuse Task Force supports the vitality of this community by helping everyone acknowledge, understand, and more effectively address the problem of substance abuse.

Solutions begin with everyone recognizing and understanding the nature of substance abuse and its root causes.

These resources can help explain the nature of substance abuse and its relation to mental health. You will also find links to resources available in our community as well as tips for identifying drug activity in your neighborhood.

Disclaimer: The Mayor’s Substance Abuse Task Force does not endorse any one method or approach to treatment and recovery over another. We hope that the information and resources we provide will help individuals and families make the decisions that are best for them.

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Additional Resources

Access more helpful information about substance abuse from these online resources. These links will take you to an external website.

From the Addiction Policy Forum

The Addiction Policy Forum reports “Addiction, also called a substance use disorder, is a ‘chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences (NIDA, 2014).'”

“Over 21 million people suffer from addiction in the United States – that’s 1 in 7 people. On average, we lose 144 people a day to drug overdoses and that number climbs to 375 if you factor in alcohol-related deaths.”

Read more at: NIDA. (2014, July 1). Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction on 2017, July 7

Gov. Eric Holcomb has launched Indiana’s Next Level Recovery website, which serves as an online resource for Hoosiers that addresses the opioid crisis in our state. Next Level Recovery offers ever-evolving information on Indiana’s opioid battle to emergency personnel, community leaders, law enforcement officials and healthcare professionals, as well as those struggling with substance abuse disorders and their families. The website includes data on opioid abuse prevention, treatment and enforcement; information on state initiatives; and ways for Hoosiers and employers to get involved.

Indiana lawmakers are working hard to combat the drug epidemic in our state, and we hope to see this resource have a positive impact on our efforts.

For more information or to visit the site, click here.

Power to Parent describes itself as, “a website and media campaign designed to help parents keep their teens healthy and safe.” Parents will find a lot of helpful information and tips on the Power to Parent website.

Power to Parent developed Hidden in Plain Sight, a traveling educational exhibit of a teen’s bedroom designed to help educate parents about the places kids can hide drugs, drug paraphernalia and other contraband. This exhibit is coming to Evansville on Oct. 7, 2017. Check out our events page for more information.

Want more information on news about addiction and overdose deaths attributed to opioids? Check out these resources from FED UP! http://feduprally.org/

As stated on the The Substance Abuse Council of Vanderburgh County’s website, it was incorporated in 1995, and in 1996 became a 501C3, non-profit organization. The Council is mandated by the Governor’s Commission to provide funding in three categories: Treatment/Intervention, Prevention/Education, and Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice. Learn more about the Council’s work at their website.

**Indiana Department of Environment Management**

Learn more about meth reporting and decontamination processes from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

More National Resources

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Additional Resources

More National Resources

For Teens

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