New research is providing an inside look at the opioid epidemic and why the state says there’s noticeable progress in combatting this issue in Michigan.

Public Sector Consultants (PSC), a nonpartisan consulting firm based in Lansing, is sharing what has emerged from its research into Michigan’s opioid epidemic.

Highlights of the data:

• There were 32,473 admissions for heroin and prescription opioid treatment in Michigan in 2016.

• About 1,275 people died in Michigan from opioid overdoses in 2015, nearly twice as many as those who died in auto crashes.

• In 2015 there were 11.4 million prescriptions written for painkillers in Michigan, compared to our state’s total population of 9.9 million.

• The average cost of a hospital stay for a newborn with opiate withdrawal is $50,000, compared to $10,000 for a healthy baby.

PSC said that it began working with the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) last year to track the resources and tools being used statewide and determine opportunities to further address the opioid issue.

“In collaboration with the MCSC, we will be distributing the survey and gathering feedback from the numerous organizations that have an interest in addressing opioid addiction,” Scott Dzurka, vice president, PSC told CMF. “Once the feedback is received, we are working with the MCSC to share the information using GIS [geographic information system] mapping so communities can build further collaborations.”

This work comes as the state just announced progress is being made, sharing that there has been a decrease in opioid prescriptions in Michigan.

The new data shows the number of opioid prescriptions has decreased by nearly 11 percent and the overall number of controlled substance prescriptions has dropped by 7.1 percent.

“The decrease in the number of controlled substances dispensed is a result of our partnerships and collective efforts to raise awareness among patients and health professionals,” Shelly Edgerton, director, Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) said. “We, along with our partners, will continue our targeted education and outreach efforts to fight back against this devastating public health crisis.”

The state said the decrease in prescriptions is due to the effectiveness of Michigan’s strategy to combat the issue and the Michigan Automated Prescription System (MAPS) that launched last year.

As CMF reported, MAPS provides prescribers a user-friendly database to view whether controlled substances have previously been prescribed to a patient.

The state said there are currently more than 30,000 registered users of MAPS and that number will grow once legislation takes effect on June 1 requiring all prescribers of controlled substances to use the system.

During the Health Funders Affinity Group spring meeting last month, CMF members participated in small group discussions with their peers around topics that will be guiding their work over the next year, including substance abuse and the opioid epidemic.

Members shared work underway, challenges in their service areas they would like to address and brainstormed ideas for future collaboration to support change throughout the state. 

“Last year, five Michigan funders collaborated to fund nine community coalitions in the fight against opioids,” Nora Maloy, co-chair CMF Health Funders Affinity Group and director of programs, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation (BCBSM Foundation) said. “In 2018, additional foundations expressed interest in joining us for a new initiative aimed at treatment.”

BCBSM, the BCBSM Foundation, Michigan Health Endowment Fund and Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, all CMF members, and the Superior Health Foundation are the five funders leading this collaborative work.

President Donald Trump’s administration has been focused on the issue nationwide, slating $625 million in the proposed federal budget for states to respond to the crisis.

 “It is an important issue for Michigan and other parts of the country, yet we don't want to minimize other substance abuses that have been long-standing and not getting similar attention and resources,” Phyllis Meadows, Health Funders Affinity Group co-chair and senior fellow of health, The Kresge Foundation said.

Want more?

Connect with CMF’s Health Funders Affinity Group.