New analysis shows several of Metro Detroit’s Downriver communities are experiencing higher rates of opioid overdoses. Data analytics from the last 5 years show Lincoln Park and Ecorse having the highest drug-related death rates in Michigan. The numbers are part of a new report published by the state’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and Appriss Health.
Kim Gaedeke is Acting Deputy Director of the regulatory agency. She says the some of the data came from the state’s mandatory automated prescription system...which requires doctors to submit patient information when prescribing narcotics. The report cross-referenced... prescribers... prescriptions... and patients
“What we ended up doing was looking at rx volume by patient and dispenser zip code. Characteristics the patient suffering a drug related overdose death and the analysis of vulnerable patient sub populations, drug related death totals, rates by city, as well as prescriber characteristics. So there were a number of different things looked at and reviewed and broken down.”
Gaedeke says the findings may help lead to new laws...target resources and design programs to address the opioid crisis. The data show that eight of the top ten cities listed by drug related overdose death rates... are located Downriver.