LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has announced that drug overdose deaths are on a slight decline in the State, including those related to opioid drugs.
The department says that this is the first decline in overdose deaths in six years.
Data released by the department shows that in 2018, there were 2,599 overdose deaths, 2,036 of which were opioid-related.
The department says overdose deaths declined by 3.2 percent from 2017. Opioid-related overdose deaths decreased by 0.8 percent from 2017 total of 2,053. Adjusting for age, opioid overdose death rates decreased from 21.4 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2017 to 21.1 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2018.
“This is a step in the right direction, however, there is much work to be done, particularly when it comes to disparities and access to treatment,” chief medical executive and chief deputy for health for MDHHS Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said. “We have a plan in Michigan to cut opioid-related overdose deaths by half in five years and we will be using all available resources to make that goal a reality.”
The decline in 2018 was due in part to decreases in the number of deaths due to poisoning by heroin and commonly prescribed natural and semisynthetic drugs such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone and oxymorphone.
However, the department notes that drug poisoning deaths involving synthetic opioids such as fentanyl continue to rise.
The data also reveals the following trends among different racial groups:
- Overall overdose mortality rates among white residents decreased by 6.5 percent, while rates among black residents increased by 14.7 percent.
- Opioid overdose mortality rates among white residents decreased by 5.1 percent, while rates among black residents increased by 19.9 percent.
- Michigan residents of other races experienced a 9.1 percent decrease in overall overdose mortality and an 8.7 percent decrease in opioid overdose mortality.
More information about opioids and state efforts against overdose deaths can be found online at Michigan.gov/Opioids.
