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Michigan Partners with Bloomberg Philanthropies to Tackle the Opioid Crisis

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Michigan will be the next state to work with Bloomberg Philanthropies to help address the nationwide opioid crisis. Mike Bloomberg and Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced Michigan’s new partnership with the philanthropic organization, which will launch a $50 million initiative to combat the epidemic.

On October 26, 2017, President Donald Trump declared the opioid crisis a nationwide public health emergency. The crisis is yet to be averted. On November 30, 2018, Bloomberg Philanthropies announced that it will invest $50 million to help up to 10 states tackle the opioid crisis over the next three years. Pennsylvania was the first state to receive support.

The initiative also involves Vital Strategies, the Pew Charitable Trusts, Johns Hopkins University, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC through the CDC Foundation.

Following the announcement, Michigan will be the second state to receive $10 million and other support from Michael Bloomberg’s philanthropic organization. Michigan has been in the grips of the nationwide opioid crisis that has been killing nearly 200 Americans per day.

The state has had the eighth highest number of overdose deaths in the country. 2,694 drug overdose deaths were recorded in Michigan in 2017. Opioids accounted for three-quarters of them. Even more concerning is the fact that these numbers have been on the rise. In fact, there was a 14 percent rise in drug overdose deaths from 2016 to 2017, and patterns have not changed since then.

Kelly Henning, MD, Public Health Program Lead at Bloomberg Philanthropies, listed other reasons why Michigan was chosen to join Pennsylvania in the initiative. Henning described it as being “a large state in the Midwest with a large population and significant urban and Native American populations. Plus, it has a governor and an administration that are keen on working on and addressing the opioid crisis in an urgent manner.”

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement about the Bloomberg initiative: “The opioid epidemic is one of the greatest health crises of our lifetime, and we need to marshal all forces necessary to fight back. The opioid crisis affects nearly every county in Michigan. These funds will help our state advance a comprehensive plan and implement critical interventions that can make the biggest impact to reduce overdose deaths.”

Bloomberg added: “Governor Whitmer is committed to reversing the epidemic, and our goal is to support her administration with resources and expertise that can help them save more lives.”

The $10 million will be allocated in different ways, but addressing the crisis will take time, effort, and information. Henning said that the first step will be to “sit with the different teams in Michigan that are dealing with opioid crisis and talk about their needs. As we have been doing in Pennsylvania, we will walk through what they are doing now and determine where they need catalytic activities.”

A statewide tour will be conducted so that all four quadrants of the state can be assessed, and not just the capital. A key component will be talking to first responders, who will have firsthand knowledge about the epidemic’s impact. Click the link to see Atlanta's top rehab placement programs.

Henning said that after her recent visit to Eastpointe, Michigan, she learned that firefighters there have been responding more frequently to opioid overdoses than fires.

If someone in the family is struggling with opioid addiction, it is important to seek help. A combination of medical detox and behavioral therapy can go a long way in the fight against drug abuse. But because every individual is affected by addiction differently, a comprehensive program tailored to their specific needs is necessary. Look for a nearby addiction treatment facility today and find out how drug treatment programs work.

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