INDIANAPOLIS — New data shows a growing concern on the east side of Indianapolis.
According to the Marion County Coroner’s Office, the 46201 ZIP code has the highest number of overdose deaths in the city.
That's why the Marion County Public Health Department teamed up with community groups for a new, targeted outreach event.
"So we are doing a door-to-door campaign to bring awareness to the amount of overdoses that occur in the 46201 ZIP code in Indianapolis,” said Madison Weintraut with MCPHD.
From January to September 2024, the coroner’s office has reported 383 overdose deaths in Marion County. Of those, 44 of them happened in the 46201 ZIP code—that’s roughly 11 percent.
"For years this neighborhood has been disproportionately affected by the opioid crisis,” Weintraut said. “It's really disheartening to see it consistently occur in this neighborhood."
On Friday, more than 50 volunteers spent four hours going door-to-door spreading awareness and handing out bags of resources.
The bags were filled with informational flyers, fentanyl test strips and naloxone.
Many of the volunteers were with the Damien Center, including Maggie Zahn.
"I've lost quite a few friends to overdose-related deaths, so it's something that is very near and dear to my heart,” Zahn said.
She said one of her top priorities is making sure people know where to get help.
"Because a lot of people just don't know. It's not that they don't care, it's just that they are unaware of the resources available to them,” Zahn said. "If that saves even just one person, that's all that matters."
Volunteers also used the time to clean up the neighborhood by picking up trash and large items left in alleyways.
This outreach event is a program of "Overdose Data to Action," a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention managed locally by the MCPHD.