At IU Columbus, we have focused our humanity sustainability reserach on a topic that has greatly impacted our service region: opioid addictions. Below are two examples research completed.
Cumulative economic damages from 15 years of opioid misuse throughout Indiana
Ryan Brewer: Article http://www.ibrc.indiana.edu/ibr/2018/spring/article1.html
The United States continues to be mired in a longstanding and growing opioid epidemic born out of the pain management industry, dating to the 1990's. Several states across the country have sustained considerable losses in both life and livelihood, which continue to mount as the epidemic has continued to yield casualties. The losses measured in this study include the direct costs, indirect costs, and estimates of loss of life and opportunity. Each region of the country has been affected, but the epidemic has produced among the most severe outcomes in Indiana.
Our study presents a comprehensive estimate of the total damages experienced in the state of Indiana to date, as well as insights about additional damages reasonably expected in the future. Key findings include estimates of:
- Direct costs (losses associated with products and services required to combat the epidemic).
- Indirect costs (losses to gross state product resulting from lost work productivity) to the citizens of Indiana.
- A methodological structure that could be used to calculate total losses in other states, counties and metro areas around the nation.
Humanity Challenge – Opioids, Grand Challenge, Mental Health Counseling (set forth by President Michael McRobbie) see link here: https://grandchallenges.iu.edu/addiction/index.html
Darrin Carr from IU Columbus MHC:
Many of our friends, neighbors and children struggle with addiction and mental health issues.
“A training clinic at IU Columbus will further the Mental Health Counseling program’s mission of creating effective, ethical and culturally-competent professionals for the citizens of Columbus and South Central Indiana," states Darrin Carr, PhD, HSPP.