1 Dead, 14 Sickened In Indiana Heroin Overdoses

Associated Press

VERNON, Ind. (AP) — A southeastern Indiana sheriff says a wave of drug overdoses that killed one person and left 14 others hospitalized was caused by heroin that may have been laced with a powerful painkiller.

Jennings County Sheriff Gary Driver says Tuesday's overdoses sent deputies racing from home to home across the county to administer an anti-overdose drug to victims.

Driver tells The (Columbus) Republic the heroin was apparently laced with fentanyl or another unknown substance. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin that's responsible for a recent surge in overdose deaths in some parts of the country.

Toxicology tests will be performed on a Jennings County woman who died to determine what substance she consumed.

Seymour police in adjacent Jackson County also responded Tuesday to numerous overdoses.

Support independent journalism today. You rely on WFYI to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Donate to power our nonprofit reporting today. Give now.

Indiana Senate Republicans want to make big changes to HIP, Medicaid. What do those changes mean?

A potential overhaul of the state’s Medicaid expansion program would include changes such as caps on enrollment and limits on lifetime eligibility. The overhaul would also reintroduce a proposal that the federal government previously blocked because it could lead to a loss of coverage.

Public Affairs / January 6, 2025

Health leaders flag Medicaid, public health as major policy concerns ahead of session

Indiana lawmakers say Medicaid will be a major health policy concern heading into the legislative session. The leader of the House health committee said the theme for the Medicaid program this year is “change.”