By Anne Runkle
The Oakland Press
OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. — Preliminary data shows a 26.1% reduction in overdose fatalities and a 19.7% decrease in non-fatal overdoses for the first six months of 2024 in Oakland County, compared to the same period in 2023.
The Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities announced the reductions at a recent 20-year celebration, where it also gave free Narcan administration training for attendees. Narcan, or naloxone, is a drug in the form of a nasal spray that reverses the respiratory effects of opioids.
The alliance also honored community members, first responders and coalitions who have made an impact on preventing substance use disorder and promoting recovery.
Statewide, overdose deaths decreased by 5.7% in 2023, with 2,826 deaths recorded, compared to 2,998 deaths in 2022, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Resources.
Locally, the alliance said the reduction in overdoses is driven by:
– Partnerships with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and Oakland Community Health Network
– The availability of Narcan training, which gives people without a medical background the ability to save lives
– The placement of 111 Save A Life Stations around the county, which dispense free doses of Narcan and instructions on how to use it. To view an interactive map showing the locations, go to https://app.mapline.com/map/map_331d3d5c/PzEUQBEUIg8Ufz8UPz8UP2sURz8Ub0k8VW4UP2cOPz8UPxozdT.
– The introduction of OPVEE, a drug that is said to treat opioid overdoses more effectively. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office began using it last year, the first law enforcement agency in the nation to do so.
– The introduction of Leave Behind Kits, used by several Oakland County police and fire departments. The kits contain Narcan doses, instructions on how to use them and a list of resources for help with addiction. Police and firefighters leave the kits behind when they respond to an overdose and on other incident runs, such as serving someone who is taking prescription painkillers that could be misused.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 108,000 people nationwide died from drug overdose in 2022; about 82,000 of those deaths involved opioids, or 76%.
For more information on the alliance, visit https://alliancemi.org/
(c)2024 The Oakland Press, Sterling Heights, Mich.
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