Pence Signs Seven Bills Aimed At Curbing Illegal Drug Use

INDIANAPOLIS -- Gov. Mike Pence Monday signed a slew of bills aimed at curbing illegal drug use in Indiana. 

Pence says the state is taking a “three-legged stool approach” to confronting drug abuse and addiction in Indiana by making more treatment options available, strengthening law enforcement and increasing prevention efforts.

Representing the treatment leg of that stool is a bill making naloxone, the narcotic overdose nasal spray commonly known as Narcan, more widely available across the state.

“We are today, through this effort, making life-saving medications available that have saved lives, and will continue to save lives from overdose in the state of Indiana,” Pence said during a bill signing ceremony at Hope Academy, a drug recovery high school in Indianapolis.

The governor said Indiana State Police will be fully trained and able to deploy Narcan within 90 days.

Among the seven drug-related bills Pence signed, one focused on enforcement says someone convicted of repeated drug dealing felonies cannot get suspended sentences. Another, aimed at prevention efforts, adds restrictions to the sale of pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in meth production.

Lawmakers opted out of making pseudoephedrine prescription-only for all Hoosiers.