INDIANAPOLIS – The Rx Abuse Leadership Initiative (RALI) Indiana today awarded a $45,000 grant to the Indiana Manufacturers Association (IMA) to equip Indiana’s largest industry with new resources in its response to opioid misuse and the addiction crisis. The grant will fund addiction education and other tools that will allow Indiana employers to further aid employees possibly affected by the epidemic. RALI Indiana also awarded 5,000 drug disposal pouches to IMA in an effort to curb unsafe disposal of unused prescription medications. The announcements were made during IMA’s 2019 Legislative Briefing.

 

“The health and safety of our workforce is the top priority for every one of our members and we are dedicated to providing whatever education and technology we can to help connect more Hoosiers affected by addiction to the right treatment,” said Brian Burton, President and CEO of IMA. “We are proud to be part of RALI Indiana and look forward to taking even greater strides toward ending the opioid epidemic.”

 

Representing more of the state’s workforce than any other industry, IMA advocates for a business climate that creates, protects and promotes quality Indiana manufacturing jobs. The RALI Indiana grant will help create a new digital toolkit and website specifically designed for employers within the manufacturing industry to offer guidance on how to identify and address substance misuse and provide direction on how to connect affected employees with the appropriate assistance.

 

“A strong workforce and economy start with educated and supported employees,” said Andy Corsig, Deputy Vice President of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). “We know that has always been a focus of IMA, which is why PhRMA and RALI Indiana are very grateful for its partnership as we all work to fight this epidemic.”

Launched in July 2018, RALI Indiana is a diverse coalition of business and community leaders, patient organizations and other health care stakeholders dedicated to finding and supporting solutions to the opioid crisis. Within the last year, RALI Indiana has awarded $150,000 to various organizations across Indiana and has donated 100,000 drug disposal pouches. For more information about RALI Indiana, the fight against Indiana’s opioid epidemic and how to safely dispose of unused medication, visit www.rali-in.org.

 

ABOUT RALI Indiana:

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RALI Indiana is an alliance of local, state and national organizations committed to finding solutions to end the opioid crisis in Indiana.  Partners of the coalition include:

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• Accelerate Indiana Municipalities

• Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America

• Drug Free Marion County

• The National Grange

• Indiana Chamber

• Indiana Manufacturers Association

• Indiana Sheriffs’ Association

• National Black Nurses Association

• National Consumer League

• Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America

• Professional Firefighters Union of Indiana

• Trusted Mentors

• Wellness Council of Indiana

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