63% of residents in Indiana know someone who struggles with substance abuse.

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.