Indiana program aims to curb opioid abuse among veterans

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Military veterans receiving treatment in VA hospitals in Indiana soon will be enrolled in a new program aimed at curbing opioid abuse among them.

Gov. Mike Pence announced this week those veterans will be enrolled in the Indiana Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, also known as INSPECT. His office says the program provides a tool for health care professionals to address the problem of prescription drug abuse and diversion in Indiana.

The program is in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It requires veterans' prescriptions through the VA be enrolled in INSPECT's online database. Health care professionals and prescribers then can access patients' controlled substance information and flag suspected abuses.

The partnership will begin with a pilot program at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis.