Why is this important?
From 2010 to 2015, the amount and strength of opioids prescribed increased significantly while the national average decreased. In 2015, the amount and strength of opioids prescribed was nearly double the national average and six times higher than the 1999 national average. In 2016, 120 opioid prescriptions per 100 persons were dispensed, nearly twice the national average.
Although opioid overdose makes up a very small percentage of all Calhoun County emergency department visits, opioid overdose visits nearly doubled from 147 to 289 visits between 2015-2017. The 2016 total opioid-related death rate of approximately 30 deaths per 100,000 Calhoun County residents was 1.72 times higher than the Michigan 2016 death rate of 17.5 deaths per 100,000 residents. More than 40 opioid-related deaths have occurred each year in Calhoun County between 2015-2017. More people die of drug-related overdose in Calhoun County than of motor vehicle accidents.
Fentanyl-related deaths increased from 6 in 2015 to 31 (Calhoun County residents) in 2017. Illegally produced fentanyl poses a serious public health threat to Calhoun County.
—Source
How can we address the opioid epidemic?
A multi-sector, collaborative approach across communities is required. The diagram outlines key strategic priorities necessary to coordinate and integrate action: prevention and education, supply and control of opioids, treatment access across a continuum of care and the reduction of fatal overdoses and the spread of infectious disease through harm reduction efforts. The Calhoun County Opioid Coalition aims to address the opioid epidemic through the coordination and integration of these four strategic priorities.
GOAL
The goal of the Opioid coalition is to
reduce opioid related deaths by 50% in Calhoun County.
Prevention and Education
What are we doing?
Treatment
What are we doing?
Supply and Control
What are we doing?
Harm Reduction
What are we doing?
What the data say:
- The death rate due to drug poisoning has significantly increased over the past 9 years and is higher than the Michigan state rate.
- Opioid-related drug poisoning has the highest frequency of drug-related deaths.
- Calhoun County has one of the highest rates of these deaths compared to other Michigan counties.
County: Calhoun
Opioid Epidemic Indicators
2.4% Percent of Students
This indicator measures the percentage of high school students who took a prescription drug such as Ritalin, Adderall, or Xanax without a doctor's prescription in the past 30 days.
This data was self-reported through the Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth (MiPHY), an online student health survey offered by the Michigan Departments of Education and Health and Human Services to support local and regional needs assessment. The MiPHY provides student results on health risk behaviors including substance use, violence, physical activity, nutrition, sexual behavior, and emotional health in grades 7, 9, and 11. The survey also measures risk and protective factors most predictive of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and violence.
Data Source: Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth
Opioid Epidemic Resources
Updated data can be found at the Substance Abuse Council here: https://www.drugfreebc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Opiate-Heroin.pdf
The Referral Guide is here: https://www.drugfreebc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Referral-Tree-6-9-22.pdf
Opioid Epidemic Key Planning Partners
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