LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Michigan is reporting a second consecutive year of decreasing opioid overdose deaths and drug overdose deaths, in general, have also declined.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services attributes the progress to the state’s comprehensive efforts to combat the epidemic. On Thursday, the MDHHS reported that in 2019 there were 2,354 overdose deaths in Michigan and that 1,768 of them were opioid-related. Those numbers showed a decline of 9.4% in overdose deaths compared to 2018.
However, preliminary data for the first half of 2020 shows 1,340 overdose deaths, which is up 16% from the same period in 2019. And they say 2020 deaths are likely to be underreported due to incomplete data.
Michigan has a plan in place that calls for cutting opioid-related overdose deaths by half in five years by 2024.
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