The state has announced a new data analysis tool is now in place within the Michigan Automated Prescription System (MAPS) to combat the opioid crisis in our state.

According to the state, the tool, NarxCare collects and presents patient data into “predictive risk scores, graphs individual prescription trends and translates patient behaviors into red flags.” This information is connected to their health records and presented to health care professionals.

“The addition of NarxCare to MAPS strengthens our prevention efforts in addressing the opioid epidemic in Michigan,” Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley said. “NarxCare gives prescribers and dispensers a more robust way to better identify potential abuse of opioids and substance use disorders.”

 This comes after Calley signed bills into law in December which require prescribers to check a patient’s prescription history in MAPS prior to providing controlled substances to patients.

“Providing care teams with easy-to-access tools and resources to communicate with patients about substance use and connect them to treatment options is a great step,” Becky Cienki, senior program officer, Michigan Health Endowment Fund told CMF. “A remaining challenge in order to improve the likelihood of successful referrals, is that it will be important to equip care teams with brief intervention skills and to continue the integration of mental health and substance abuse treatment services.”

The Michigan Health Endowment Fund has awarded several grants to address various issues arising from the opioid crisis, including supporting outpatient clinics in metro Detroit to provide education, diagnosis and treatment to those with opioid use disorders.

What the state’s data on the growing opioid crisis tells us:

• From 1999 to 2016, the total number of overdose deaths involving any type of opioid increased more than 17 times in Michigan, from 99 to 1,689.  

• Data from MAPS reported 11.4 million prescriptions for painkillers in 2015 were written, about 115 opioid prescriptions per 100 people.

• In 2016, 2,335 people died of drug overdoses. That’s more deaths than those which resulted from car crashes.

“Communities are well aware of the growing epidemic in their communities,” Nora Maloy, tri-chair of the Health Funders Affinity Group and director of programs, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation told CMF. “Many community organizations are partnering to develop a unified strategy in terms of prevention and treatment for the families affected by this epidemic.”

In fact, just last week, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation along with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan and the Superior Health Foundation announced they joined together and funded nine community coalitions around the state for over $570,000 to address the opioid epidemic in their communities. 

Last summer the foundations formed a partnership to support the Taking Action on Opioid and Prescription Drug Abuse in Michigan. The program supports evidence-based programs and projects in as many as seven coalitions formed in Michigan communities over 18 months to identify and implement strategies to prevent opioid abuse.

“We have not turned the corner yet, opioid deaths are predicted to increase over the next several years rather than decrease,” Maloy said. “I would like to see philanthropic foundations work with the state and federal government to develop a multi-year plan to address opioid abuse and misuse in Michigan.”

Last week in an op-ed in USA Today, an assistant secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use in the Health and Human Services (HHS) Department, said the work of President Donald Trump and his administration has led to the opioid crisis being declared an emergency and helped move the work forward to address it.

“We are also pursuing new ways to empower state agencies and civil society through technical assistance, adopting a more individualized approach,” Elinore F. McCance-Katz wrote. “HHS is also answering the president’s call to focus on public awareness, beginning the market research and message-testing we know is necessary for such campaigns to succeed.”

Want more?

Connect with the Health Funders Affinity Group.

Check out this additional resource: Rural Communities, Older People and the Opioid Crisis: An Introduction for Funders.