Michigan's new online tool for substance use treatment access
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Michiganders grappling with substance use disorders require improved access to timely treatment, according to the state.
Driving the news: Michigan's health department announced new and expanded tools yesterday for assisting people struggling with drugs or alcohol.
The latest: A new online search tool lets those seeking care find substance use disorder treatment near them. Users can also search by service types, according to a news release.
- Googling around for treatment can be difficult, so the state wanted to create one place that's easy to access and navigate, Kristen Jordan, director of specialty behavioral health services for the state health department, tells Axios.
Plus, the state is expanding its Health Home program, a whole-person-centered approach for Medicaid users that previously targeted opioid use and is expanding to include all Michigan counties, and alcohol and stimulant use, too.
- Health Home services coordinate primary and specialty behavioral health care with peer recovery coaches.
- State-level Medicaid changes over the last two to three years have also helped, according to Jordan, including allowing those using Medicaid more access to alcohol and opioid use treatment from their primary care offices.
The big picture: The number of fatal drug overdoses nationwide and in Michigan is on the decline — but the opioid overdose crisis is still urgent.
- Overdose deaths in Michigan fell from 3,096 in 2021 to 2,830 in 2023, according to the latest state data.
What they're saying: "The main challenge is making sure people have timely access to treatment," Jordan says. "So by expanding these settings and the services that we're covering, we're all better positioned to provide help when someone wants or needs it."
The intrigue: There's new money coming in to help those with opioid-related substance use disorder. Michigan and its local governments are expected to get nearly $1.6 billion through 2040 from opioid lawsuit settlements.
- The majority of the funds need to be spent on mitigating opioid use issues, treatment for those misusing opioids and mitigating the effects of the opioid epidemic.