(CBS DETROIT) – Michigan state officers say the overdose loss of life charge decreased from 2,998 in 2022 to 2,826 in 2023.
In line with the Michigan Division of Well being and Human Companies (MDHHS), the state's decline from 2021 to 2023 was 5 instances larger than the decline seen nationally throughout the identical interval.
The state credit the launch of its Naxlone Direct portal, which offers Narcan to neighborhood teams totally free. Officers say elevated entry to fentanyl and xylazine take a look at strips additionally contributed to the decline in overdose deaths.
“Michigan is a frontrunner in treating opioid dependancy and has been acknowledged by the Nationwide Governors Affiliation for our hurt discount efforts,” MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel stated in an announcement. “We’ll proceed to put money into packages that advance our efforts to save lots of lives by lowering substance use issues, increasing therapy choices, and bettering restoration success.”
MDHHS officers say regardless of the decline, a racial hole nonetheless exists. For instance, Black residents and American Indian/Alaska Native residents are 2.eight and a pair of.2 instances, respectively, extra more likely to die than white residents.
“Disparities in mortality charges replicate a broader systemic drawback that’s being addressed via focused interventions in communities of shade. MDHHS is taking a data-driven method to make sure funding for substance use issues reaches communities with biggest want,” the division stated in a information launch.