Hospital and Physician Update

January – February 2020

Battling the opioid epidemic: A roundup of recent news and information

Deaths from opioids decline slightly
The number of Michigan drug overdose deaths declined, albeit slightly, for the first time in six years, according to figures released late last year by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The state recorded 2,599 overdose deaths in 2018 — or roughly seven a day, the Detroit Free Press reported. Compared with 2,686 deaths in 2017, they represent a 3.2% decrease.

Opioid overdoses — which account for most of the overdose deaths in the state and across the nation — declined only .8% — from 2,053 in 2017 to 2,036 in 2018. They account for about 5½ deaths a day.

The new figures confirm information reported earlier last year by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that showed overdose deaths declining in Michigan. The CDC also reported overdose deaths declining across the nation as well.

Fighting opioid crisis on front line: Emergency rooms
A movement is afoot in Michigan and nationally to fight the opioid crisis on the front line: emergency rooms, Bridge Magazine reported Nov. 20, 2019. “We decided to catch these patients when they are at their most vulnerable,” said Andrew King, an emergency room physician at Detroit Receiving Hospital. “We want to break down barriers and find them immediate help.” Using ER physicians to help combat the opioid crisis is also a central component of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s new medication-assisted treatment program. For details, see Dr. Amy McKenzie’s column, also in this issue.

Webinar on opioid epidemic and the workplace available for viewing
In a one-hour, on-demand webinar, industry experts William Beecroft, M.D., medical director of behavioral health, and Erin McGuire, Pharm.D., clinical pharmacist, provide an update on the opioid crisis, discuss the connections between behavioral health and opioid use, and educate human resources professionals on what the health care industry is doing to combat the opioid epidemic.

HR professionals will gain a better understanding of the many faces of people who may be addicted to these potentially deadly medications and how they can help their employees get the care they need. This activity has been approved for 1 HR recertification credit hour through the HR Certification Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management.

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