For substance abuse treatment and mental health referrals, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
The United States is currently going through an officially recognized opioid epidemic. According to the CDC, opioid related deaths went up by over 500% between 1999-2022, with a national count of nearly 300 deaths daily. More people are dying from opioid overdoses than from cocaine overdoses in recent years.
Now, pharmaceutical companies are having to pay states settlement funds as a result of lawsuits after being accused of aggressively pushing opioid pain killers and aiding in the growth of the epidemic. Companies will eventually pay a total of $50 billion worth of funds nationwide over the course of several years, the second largest public health settlement ever. Michigan is expected to get $1.6 billion by 2040.
This guide is your one-stop shop guide for information on what communities across the state are planning to do with their funds.
What are opioids?
Opioids are a classification of drug known for their euphoric feeling side effects and pain relieving qualities. Opioids can be both legal or illegal, depending on their usage.
Legally classified opioids are medications prescribed to a person and used in the way their doctor intended. Some of the medications that fall under this category include Oxycodone, Morphine, Methadone and Vicodin. These drugs are safe to take as long as you are following your doctor's instructions and not prolonging use.
Illegally classified opioids can be the exact same substances, or similar. The difference comes with how a person uses them. Opioids that are illegal are taken in an abusive manner to gain the positive side effects that come with them, or possibly made outside of a proper manufacturer.
When homemade and non-prescribed, opioids are no longer subject to the same quality control standards as regularly controlled substances. They also become much more likely to be mixed with other substances, which can cause fatal overdoses. Fentanyl is commonly added to many substances, opioid or not, that is lethal when taken in too large of a dose, or a dose that is much smaller than one would assume.
It is important to note that opioids are incredibly addictive substances no matter how they are received, and should only be taken under the guidance of your doctor. Michigan alone had over 2,000 identified opioid overdoses in 2020.
More information about opioids and what they are used for can be found at the US Department of Health and Human Services website and from the CDC.
What are the opioid settlements, and why do they exist?
The opioid settlements are the monetary payments states are receiving to settle lawsuits concerning the manufacturing, distribution, and pharmaceutical involvement in the ever growing opioid epidemic. The lawsuits are connected to companies who pushed for the use and sale of opioids, despite the knowledge that the drugs were ending up on the black market and people dying from their abuse.
Four of these companies make up $26 billion of the funds alone.
By 2040, Michigan will have received nearly $1.6 billion as a result of these payments. Half of the funds will be distributed directly to the state's counties, cities, and townships to be used directly at a local level. The remaining half is to go into a specially designated fund for state use, called The Michigan Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund.
85% of all local funds are to be used for the purpose of opioid remediation, with 70% of the spending going towards future remediation.
Exhibit E is the legal document attached to most of the settlement agreements across the country. This document lists out many of the approved uses for funds.
What is opioid remediation?
Michigan's Substance Use Disorder website defines opioid remediation as the care, treatment, and other expenditures designed to address and mitigate the usage and effects of opioid substances.
How is my community utilizing these funds?
As of this writing, not every county or city has officially announced their plans for utilizing their portion of the funds. However, Michigan's Opioid Settlement Resource Center has an interactive page that shows details of fund distribution and usage on a statewide scale. A part of this is the inclusion of the most recent data report they have released on the subject.
Some areas, such as Cass County, have entire webpages set up dedicated to their funds. Check your local community's official webpage to see if there is an equivalent in your area.
More information about usage of opioid settlement funds can be found at Michigan.gov
What does the opioid epidemic look like in my area?
An overdose surveillance map is available from the University of Michigan's Injury Prevention Center. This map includes data for the entirety of 2024, and reveals every reported naloxone administration and suspected fatal overdose for every county.
Michigan.gov has a comprehensive three-year Overdose Data to Action Dashboard (MODA) that includes reports of opioid prescription numbers and overdose related emergency healthcare visits across the state.
A county map is available with data of opioid prescription dispense numbers from 2015-2021 from Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services.
Where can I find local resources for people struggling with opioid usage?
If you or a loved one are experiencing an opioid crisis, please call the SAMHSA National Hotline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or dial 911 immediately.
Naloxone, known more commonly by the name Narcan, is the medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. The FDA has recently made Narcan available as an over the counter drug that no longer requires a prescription to access.
Naloxone rescue kits are available to be sent directly to your home. There is also the option to call your local pharmacy to pick up a dose in person, although this option may require a copay. Next Distro has information available on how to receive these kits.
If you would like more information on Narcan/Naloxone, you can visit Michigan's Substance Use Disorder webpage.
More information on opioid abuse and gaining assistance can be found here.
