Center for Health Policy, IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health
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The Center for Health Policy (CHP) is the research hub of the department of Health Policy and Management. Our mission is to generate evidence that informs decision-making in Indiana and beyond. CHP Fellows and staff conduct rigorous research and evaluation on health system performance and health policy issues, with a specific focus on: population health and analytics; substance misuse and mental health services; and public health systems and services research.
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Item Understanding Law Enforcement Perceptions and Beliefs Toward Addiction, Treatment, and Harm Reduction in Indianapolis(Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, 2025-12-31) Greene, Marion; Gutta, Jyotsna; Williamson, CurtisLaw enforcement officers routinely interact with individuals who use drugs, placing them at the intersection of public health, criminal justice, and social services. These encounters are shaped not only by the laws officers are tasked with enforcing, but also by their personal beliefs, professional training, departmental culture, and broader societal narratives surrounding drug use. Therefore, understanding officers’ attitudes and perceptions about addiction, treatment, and overdose prevention is essential to identifying gaps in knowledge and support. Such insights can inform the development of targeted training, strengthen partnerships between public health and law enforcement, and ensure officers are equipped with the tools and resources necessary for effective and compassionate responses. This study surveyed officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department to examine how their perceptions on drug use and overdose prevention in the community influence discretionary decisions during drug‑related encounters.Item Increasing Primary Care and Preventive Care Utilization in Indiana: A State-Level Approach(2026-02-03) Soni, Aparna; Menachemi, Nir; Renzi-Burns, Andrea; Sanner, LindseyStrengthening primary care and preventive care is a key priority for the state of Indiana, as codified in recent legislation and backed by employers and health leaders. Policymakers, business and provider coalitions, insurers, and residents broadly agree on the importance of primary care and preventive care as pillars of Hoosier health and key requirements for continued state-level economic growth. However, stakeholders are not always aligned on the strategies and investments needed to build a stronger primary care and preventive care system in the state.Item Landscape Scan for LaPorte County 2025(2025-12-31) Greene, Marion; Sanner, Lindsey; Gutta, JyotsnaIn spring 2025, the Health Foundation of La Porte (HFL) partnered with the Fairbanks School of Public Health (FSPH) at Indiana University Indianapolis to conduct a comprehensive landscape scan focused on two priority areas: Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) and Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) in La Porte County. The purpose of this landscape scan was to assess community needs and assets related to HEAL and MHSU, identify barriers and facilitators that influence progress across both priority areas, and ensure that local voices are heard to inform decision-making.Item Overdose Data to Action: Limiting Overdose through Collaborative Actions in Localities (OD2A: LOCAL)(2024-10) Greene, Marion; Sanner, Lindsey; Gutta, Jyotsna; Williamson, Curtis; McNamee, CassidyIn the fall of 2023, the Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) was awarded the federal Overdose Data to Action: Limiting Overdose through Collaborative Actions in Localities (OD2A: LOCAL) grant. This 5-year initiative by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) supports local jurisdictions in addressing the overdose crisis through surveillance and evidence-based prevention and harm reduction strategies, with the overarching goal to reduce drug overdoses and health inequities. To achieve this goal, MCPHD funds and collaborates with 16 community organizations (subawardees).Item Treatment & Recovery for Substance Use Disorders in Indiana(Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, 2016-10) Kooreman, Harold; Greene, MarionSubstance abuse is a significant public health concern. When drug or alcohol use regularly causes a person substantial life consequences, he/she has likely transitioned from occasional, potentially problematic, use to having a substance use disorder (SUD). In 2014, almost half a million Hoosiers (8.5%) met the criteria for SUD.Item Meth Use in Indiana(Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, 2010-07) Greene, Marion; Williams, Matthew; Wright, EricMethamphetamine, a derivative of amphetamine, is a synthetic stimulant that affects the central nervous system. It is commonly known as meth, speed, and chalk; in its smoked form, it is often referred to as ice, crystal, crank, and glass. Due to its high potential for abuse, meth is classified as a Schedule II drug and is legally available only by prescription. Abuse of the drug is a serious problem in the United States, often resulting in devastating medical, psychological, social, and legal consequences. According to estimates from the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 12.6 million Americans (or 5.0 percent) ages 12 and older have tried meth at least once in their life.Item Polypharmacy Among Prescription Drug Users(Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, 2017-08) Omenka, Issac; Greene, MarionPolypharmacy, i.e., the misuse of multiple prescription drugs or prescription medication with other substances, is highly problematic. Whether unintentional or deliberate, misuse of multiple drugs can lead to adverse effects including addiction; drug-drug interactions; and overdose, potentially resulting in death. Polypharmacy is not uncommon; almost 84 percent of prescription drug misusers receiving substance abuse treatment in Indiana reported using at least one additional substance, most commonly alcohol or marijuana.Item Substance Abuse in Indiana - An Urban-Rural Perspective(Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, 2017-06) Kooreman, Harold; Greene, MarionThe use of alcohol and drugs is a significant public health problem in the United States. Indiana, like many other states in the nation, is lacking in substance abuse treatment services and rural areas are particularly underserved. Rural residents may encounter additional barriers to receiving substance abuse treatment, including stigma, fear that they may know their treatment providers, a lack of access to specialized services, inferior quality of care, and having to pay more for treatment.Item Substance Abuse Trends in Indiana: A 10-Year Perspective(Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, 2017-04) Balio, Casey; Greene, MarionSubstance use is a significant public health problem in the United States. Excessive use of alcohol and drugs has been linked to increased morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular conditions; injuries and motor vehicle crashes; sexually transmitted and blood-borne illnesses, including HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B and C, resulting from risky sexual behaviors and/or injection drug use; pregnancy complications and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS); and drug overdoses.Item Substance Misuse in Indiana(Ricjard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, 2021-05) The Center, for Health PolicySubstance use continues to be a major public health concern, negatively impacting a variety of health, legal, and social outcomes.