Garcia Wilburn celebrates decrease in overdose deaths in 2023, calls for additional legislative action on recovery efforts

State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers) applauded recent provisional CDC data showing that Indiana had an estimated 17.85% decrease in drug overdose deaths from 2022 to 2023:

“As a recovery-focused public health researcher and Indiana Behavioral Health Commission member, I am elated to see such a significant decrease in drug overdose deaths from 2022 to 2023. Recovery is possible, and Indiana's bipartisan efforts to save lives from the substance use disorder epidemic are working.

“But we can still do better and data has shown decriminalizing fentanyl test strips can save even more lives. My bill this year to keep Hoosiers safe and unlock additional recovery funding by decriminalizing fentanyl test strips passed with broad bipartisan support out of the House of Representatives but did not receive a hearing in the Senate. We need to take action on this important policy change during the 2025 legislative session so that it can become law, as it has in Wisconsin and Tennessee.”