Michigan has received 79.5 million dollars from the federal government to help it respond to the opioid addiction crisis.
Some of the money will go toward training emergency health care providers to effectively treat people addicted to opioids.
Andrea Taverna is the senior advisor for opioid strategy at the state health department.
She says at the end of a traditional emergency-room visit, an overdose survivor might leave with nothing more than a list of doctors to call about a follow-up appointment.
"You’re not very likely to take that list of providers and call around until you find someone who can help you," said Taverna. "You’re much more likely to return to using opioids."
With the right training and resources, those providers can establish an actual treatment plan before the patient leaves the hospital.