Legislators are considering a bill that would give those who've been convicted of a drug crime or revived with an overdose intervention drug priority admission into drug court or treatment programs. The proposal is in response to the state's growing opioid epidemic.
Several police departments and parents testified in favor of the bill, saying the opioid epidemic can't be stopped without proper treatment.
Fort Wayne Police Chief Steve Reed says his department saw 81 overdose deaths in 2016 and crime is up because people are desperate to feed their addiction.
"When we come across someone who's overdosed, if there's product on scene we will charge them with that after they've received medical treatment," Reed says. "But filling up our jails isn't the answer with addicts."
Kimberly Miller buried her daughter this week after she died from an overdose. She says the bill is a necessary step to help prevent other families from enduring a similar tragedy.
"We release them from the hospital with an untreated substance abuse disorder and we wonder why they continue to overdose," she says.
The committee will revisit the proposal next week.