INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration announced opioid treatment programs will receive lockboxes and naloxone kits in order to reduce the risk of people receiving treatment catching and spreading COVID-19.
According to information from the FSSA, the lockboxes will allow people who are stable in their treatment of opioid use disorder to reduce their number of trips and time spent at an opioid treatment program to receive their daily dose of methadone.
“It’s imperative that we take any and all measures necessary to support Hoosiers in achieving or maintaining optimal health and well-being during the global pandemic,” Dr. Jennifer Sullivan, secretary of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, said.
The Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction will supply programs with the lockboxes, which will secure take-home doses of methadone, and naloxone kits. Naloxone is used as an antidote to save a person experiencing an opioid overdose. The FSSA said state law requires anyone administering naloxone to call 911.
Before the coronavirus pandemic, most patients were required to visit a clinic every day to receive their medication. The FSSA said opioid treatment programs serve more than 10,000 people who are in recovery from opioid use disorder and provide them with methadone, evidence-based therapies and other psychological services.
“Urging Hoosiers to isolate themselves from each other is necessary, but for some it could bring unique health risks," Sullivan said. "For our fellow Hoosiers recovering from opioid use disorder, this innovative approach to delivering the medications they need daily will support them in their recovery while also helping contain the spread of COVID-19.”
