1 month ago
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INDIANAPOLIS (MIRROR INDY) — The text went out a week before Christmas: “Overdose Lifeline received a report of a large seizure of meth, pressed pills and fentanyl in the 46203 ZIP code.”
“Please be cautious by testing drugs and having naloxone on hand,” it continued.
The alert is part of weekly messages sent through CHARIOT, an anonymous texting service aimed at preventing overdoses in real time. Alerts are sent out when Overdose Lifeline, an Indianapolis nonprofit, receives information about a disruption in the local drug supply chain.
That could include “bad batches,” such as meth that’s been laced with opioids. The group also tracks drug seizures by law enforcement. Research shows overdoses spike in the weeks following police action. People may experience withdrawal or decreased tolerance, and so take more risks while using.
“We’ve got to address the unintended consequences,” said Justin Phillips, the founder of Overdose Lifeline. “Otherwise we are going to lose a bunch of lives.”
In 2025, about 1,300 people in Marion County went to the emergency room for a ...
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