Hundreds attended the event sponsored the Indiana University Institute of Psychiatric Research and Mental Health America of Indiana.

Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, referred to medication-assisted treatment for addiction as "substituting one opioid for another."

The state's funding from the Health and Human Services is among $485 million the agency recently awarded to all 50 states and several U.S. territories.

The proposed pilots would require the State's Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services to contract with local health providers in Tippecanoe, Wayne and Marion counties to offer evidence-based treatment - inpatient, outpatient and residential - to addicted adults at serious risk of injury or death.

Critics argue the legislature is "backsliding" to previous, failed attempts to address the drug epidemic.

The law would not require Medicaid to cover mental health and substance use treatment.

A program using horses is helping a group of men in recovery.

Legislators have proposed bills that would help fund and establish places to help pregnant mothers addicted to opioids and their children born dependent.

The proposal would apply to first time adult patients and children and would also allow people to only have a portion of their prescription filled.

Childhood neglect cases are increasing in Indiana and many state agencies point to the rise in opioid addiction.