Regenstrief Institute hosted the second annual conference of the Indiana State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup (SEOW). The annual meeting highlights research and initiatives in the field of substance abuse and mental health.
Indiana State officials, prevention professionals, researchers and others shared their knowledge of substance abuse issues facing Indiana. The event was sponsored by the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction and the Center for Health Policy at the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI, which is led by Regenstrief Institute researcher Josh Vest, PhD.
Participants discussed topics ranging from community-level prevention efforts to opioid overdose surveillance in Indiana. One of the discussions was led by leaders from Scott County and the local community. They spoke about their community’s response to the county’s drug-related HIV outbreak.
The Indiana SEOW is a collaboration of representatives from several state agencies. It was established in 2006 as part of a federal grant requirement from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The SEOW is tasked with monitoring substance misuse, addiction and mental health indicators in the state, identifying statewide prevention priorities and disseminating research findings to aid the decision-making process. The Center for Health Policy at Fairbanks School of Public Health has provided leadership and technical guidance since the SEOW was created.
This was the group’s second conference.