Observed each year on on August 31, International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event that aims to raise awareness of drug overdose and related deaths, reduce the stigma of addiction and drug-related fatalities, and reduce substance use disorder and related harms.
In 2023, Michigan saw 2,826 drug overdose deaths. Michigan has also been one of the states most heavily affected by the U.S. opioid epidemic. Highly addictive opioids such as painkillers and heroin are the main substances driving the numbers. Fentanyl, the manufactured (or synthetic) opioid in particular has become more prevalent in recent years, with dangerous and unpredictable side effects that have fueled the state’s surge in overdose deaths.
In an effort to encourage people to seek life saving measures for a drug overdose, Michigan has a good Samaritan overdose immunity law which provides immunity from arrest, charge or prosecution for certain controlled substance possession and paraphernalia offenses when a person–either experiencing an opiate-related overdose or observing one–calls 911 for assistance or seeks medical attention.
In 2016, Michigan also passed a Naloxone standing order law allowing pharmacists to dispense Naloxone, the life-saving overdose-reversal medication, “without an individual prescription and without identifying a particular patient.”
Additional Resources and Information
Naloxone Access:
For information about where to find Naloxone anywhere in Michigan and how to use it, please visit Naloxone – Michigan OPEN.
Naloxone is also available to all Pine Rest patients receiving outpatient and/or recovery services, and their family members. To learn more, please contact your therapist or prescriber.
Grief Support:
If you or someone you know has lost someone to an overdose, the following resources are available:
FAN (Face Addiction Now) offers a grief support group ‘Stronger Together’ for those who have lost someone to substance use. For more information, visit the website.
Gilda’s Club offers weekly general grief support groups. To lean more, visit their website.
Pine Rest has free grief resources, including ‘Understanding Grief’ downloadable brochure, available 24/7 at our website.
Addiction and mental health treatment services at Pine Rest:
For more information, call 866.852.4001 or visit our Addiction & Recovery site at pinerest.org/addiction.
