The state’s Michigan Opioids Task Force is seeking proposals for a racial equity consultant to guide the development of a Racial Equity Workgroup. This comes as Michigan’s opioid epidemic continues to disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous and People of Color. In 2020, data illustrated increases in overdose fatalities among Black and Hispanic/Latinx populations.

According to the state, the age-adjusted opioid overdose death rate for Black residents increased from 29.1 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2019 to 37.5 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2020 and for Hispanic residents, it increased from 15 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2019 to 22.3 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2020.

The workgroup will be committed to evidence-based initiatives to combat growing racial disparities in overdose deaths and will support the development of a statewide Racial Equity Strategic Plan for reducing overdose disparities.

The task force is partnering with global public health organization Vital Strategies to support the work of the workgroup.

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM) has worked closely with Vital Strategies, awarding grants to 10 Michigan community foundations to reduce overdose deaths by expanding harm reduction services. The effort was connected to the work of the Michigan Opioid Partnership (MOP) which was formed in 2018 and is comprised of several CMF members including the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation, CFSEM, the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation, The Jewish Fund and the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, along with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the MDHHS and Superior Health Foundation.

According to Sarah Baltman Wedephol, director of health initiatives at the CFSEM, MOP continues to focus on projects that support harm reduction, recovery in communities and dismantling barriers to treatment.

“The state recognizes that more resources are needed in communities that lack access to quality care for opioid use disorder, particularly those communities that face increased stigma when seeking support. The MOP is supportive of the state taskforce’s efforts to raise awareness and take action on this ongoing public health crisis,” Wedephol told CMF. 

Wedephol shared that CFSEM has been working closely with New Detroit, a racial justice organization, to address racial disparities in hospital settings through the development of a training, which is expected to launch this spring.

“The data show what we have known for decades—the stigmatization and structural differences in health care for Black, Indigenous and People of Color have resulted in a large gap in treatment and support for people who are living with substance use disorder,” Wedephol told CMF.

MOP will continue to work closely with partners to address the impacts of the opioid crisis.

“As the state taskforce develops its strategies and recommendations, the MOP will be working to align and support the State by prioritizing where philanthropy can be most helpful to leverage and elevate the State’s work to address oppression and systemic racial disparities,” Wedephol said. 

Want more?

Read MDHHS’ full press release.

Learn more about the Michigan Opioid Partnership.

Learn more about Vital Strategies.