Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 29, 2024

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

Michigan addressing racial disparities in overdose deaths through
harm reduction, other data-driven programs in upcoming year
More than 6,600 overdoses reversed through naloxone distribution 

LANSING, Mich. – As part of Michigan’s efforts to reduce drug-related overdose deaths and decrease overdose racial disparities, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is investing $10 million from opioid settlement funds in harm reduction programs in FY2024.

The State of Michigan is expected to receive more than $800 million over 18 years as part of the $26 billion nationwide settlement with the three largest pharmaceutical distributors as well as opioid manufacturer Johnson and Johnson.

“Michigan has been a leader in distributing opioid funds and ensuring the care, health and well-being of residents in need, and we will continue to lead in this area,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive and Michigan Opioids Task Force co-chair. We have been recognized as a national leader in harm reduction by the National Governors Association.”

Michigan experienced one of the highest rates of overdoses in the country in 2017, but by 2021 had improved to a rate better than the national average. When comparing 2023 to 2022, Michigan continues to experience promising decreases in overdoses. However, these decreases are not representative of all Michigan residents, with Black residents overdosing at a rate 2.7 times higher than white Michigan residents based on preliminary January to June 2023 data. In 2022, there were 2,998 overdose deaths, 840 (28%) of those deaths among Black residents.

“We are addressing disparities by prioritizing the needs of vulnerable populations as we distribute settlement dollars across the state,” said Tommy Stallworth, MDHHS senior advisor and consultant. “As the former director of the Governor’s Coronavirus Racial Disparities Task Force, the opioid epidemic is another tragic example of the need to address racial disparities in health care. As such, we are making sure that equity is at the core of all decisions we make about allocating opioid settlement funds, targeting programs and also ensuring our decisions are made with the supporting data in mind. Everything we do must be designed with the goal of measurably reducing overdose deaths and eliminating racial disparities.”

Naloxone kit distribution, drug test kits helping save lives

Michigan has distributed more than 730,000 naloxone kits and recorded over 6,600 overdose reversals since the 2020 launch of Michigan’s Naloxone Direct Portal, which provides the opioid overdose reversal medication at no charge to community groups. In FY23, opioid settlement dollars funded the distribution of nearly 150,000 kits, resulting in the reversal of nearly 2,600 overdoses. Nearly 25,000 naloxone kits were distributed in both Detroit and Flint.

As part of the effort to get naloxone into the hands of communities of color, The Youth Connection in Detroit has provided in-person and virtual trainings on naloxone administration for 6,727 individuals and distributed 7,600 naloxone kits. Training has been provided to numerous community organizations, including law enforcement, block clubs, churches, schools and senior facilities.

“Making sure a variety of community members know how to use and have access to naloxone is key to being able to address overdoses, which can happen in any setting,” said Dr. Grenae Dudley, president and CEO of The Youth Connection. “Naloxone saves lives and we have received reports of 100 overdose reversals by participants of our trainings.”

Additionally, in FY23, 73,352 fentanyl test strips and 5,392 xylazine test strips were distributed. This includes nearly 6,500 test strips in Detroit. Data indicates people using drugs practice safer use when knowing these substances are present.

Additional efforts designed to address disparities slated for the coming year include adding the distribution of naloxone and fentanyl strips to community wellness centers across the state with an emphasis on communities of color. These centers are located in trusted community partners including churches and other community locations.

Additional information regarding proposed programming under Michigan’s Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund is provided on the opioids settlement website.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 22, 2024

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

Nearly $250 million included in FY25 budget to expand access
to behavioral health services for Michigan families
Over $193 million in funding for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics

LANSING, Mich. – As part of the state’s continued commitment to expanding access to behavioral health services for Michigan families, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s FY2025 budget proposal includes $193.3 million to strengthen Michigan’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) demonstration program.

Funds will be used to expand the number of CCBHC sites and establish more robust support, as well as oversight and monitoring, for Michigan’s Medicaid CCBHC demonstration. CCBHCs are non-profit or local government agencies that are federally required to provide nine comprehensive behavioral health services, including 24/7 mobile crisis response and medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorders. 

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Elizabeth Hertel visited with Network 180, a Community Mental Health Authority that includes a CCBHC site in Kent County, Thursday, Feb. 22.

The CCBHC model increases access to numerous behavioral health services by serving all individuals with a behavioral health diagnosis, regardless of insurance or ability to pay,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “The CCBHC model has been shown to substantially increase access to care, advance the coordination of physical and behavioral health, strengthen community partnerships, address health inequities and improve the quality of behavioral health services.”

The FY25 budget proposal will support expanded access to behavioral health supports and services for up to 50,000 additional Michigan residents. There are currently 30 CCBHCs in Michigan’s Medicaid demonstration project, as well as several additional provider organizations currently receiving federal grant funding to establish clinics and provide CCBHC services.

In FY23, 13 Medicaid-funded CCBHCs provided services to approximately 75,000 unique individuals across Michigan. Approximately 30% of individuals served were children and young adults ages 0 to 21 and 70% were adults.

Additional budget recommendations include funding to increase access to behavioral health services through direct program capacity enhancements, a managed care rate increase for behavioral health services, incentives to build a pipeline of qualified providers and ongoing resource support for people experiencing behavioral health crises.

• $36.1 million to increase rates for behavioral health services provided through Medicaid health plans.
• $8.3 million to establish Medicaid reimbursement for peer provided substance use disorder services.
• $7.3 million for the Michigan Crisis and Access Line to ensure structural ongoing support for services currently provided to individuals experiencing behavioral health crises.
• $4 million to enhance gambling prevention and treatment services including residential gambling treatment, recovery support services, youth education and prevention services, research and evaluation, provider training, a media campaign and the problem gambling hotline.

  

Pictured during the MDHHS visit to Network 180 are (l. to r.) Sarah Desmarais, MDHHS senior advisor of economic stability operations and programs; David Knezek, MDHHS chief operating officer; Beverly Ryskamp, Network 180 chief operating officer; MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel; Bill Ward, Network 180 executive director; Amy Rottman, Network 180 chief financial officer; and Kristin Spykerman, Network 180 chief clinical officer.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 8, 2024

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

New gun safety laws to protect families go into effect February 13
Requires secure storage of firearms to prevent access by minors, enacts penalties

LANSING, Mich. – To help protect Michigan families – particularly children – from the tragedies of gun violence and unintentional firearms injuries, a law requiring secure storage of firearms goes into effect starting Tuesday, Feb. 13.

The new secure storage law, Public Act 17 of 2023, requires individuals to keep unattended weapons unloaded and locked with a locking device or stored in a locked box or container if it is reasonably known that a minor is likely to be present on the premises.

“We want to make sure Michigan families are aware of the new law designed to prevent unintentional deaths involving guns and how to comply with the new requirements,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “Data shows firearms involved in unintentional firearm injury deaths among children and adolescents were often stored both loaded and unlocked, and children were most often fatally injured when the shooter was playing with or showing the firearm to others.”

If an individual fails to store a firearm as required and a minor obtains the firearm and any of the following occur, they are guilty of a crime under Public Act 16 of 2023, as follows:

• If the minor possesses or exhibits the firearm in a public place or possesses or exhibits the firearm in the presence of another person in a careless, reckless or threatening manner: a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to 93 days or a fine of up to $500, or both.
• If the minor discharges the firearm and injures themselves or another individual: a felony punishable by imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to $5,000, or both.
• If the minor discharges the firearm and inflicts serious impairment of a body function on themselves or another individual: a felony punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years or a fine of up to $7,500, or both.
• If the minor discharges the firearm and inflicts death on themselves or another individual: a felony punishable by imprisonment for up to 15 years or a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

These penalties could be imposed in addition to charges for other criminal offenses arising from an incident.

“As the top law enforcement officer in the state of Michigan, as a former Wayne County prosecutor and as a mother, I too am exasperated and deeply saddened that thousands of Michigan residents fall victim each year to the scourge of senseless, preventable gun violence in our state,” said Attorney General Dana Nessel. “I am proud that our state has finally implemented new commonsense gun safety measures and am committed to using the resources of my office to educate residents about the new measures and support our communities through implementation.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, two-thirds (67%) of unintentional firearm injury deaths among children and adolescents occurred when the shooter was playing with the firearm or showing the firearm to others. Overall, firearms used in unintentional injury deaths were often stored unlocked (76%) and most of these unlocked firearms were also loaded (91%). Unlocked firearms were most commonly accessed from a nightstand or other sleeping areas (30%).

In addition, firearms are involved in more than half of suicide deaths in Michigan. Secure storage can also serve as a suicide prevention strategy.

In 2020, firearms became the number one cause of death for children in the United States and Michigan, surpassing motor vehicle deaths and those caused by other injuries.

“Firearm violence is preventable, and a leading cause of death in our young people,” said Dr. Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “In Michigan, and across the United States, childhood deaths from firearms now exceed deaths from pediatric cancers and drownings. We have had major success over the past decades in reducing pediatric deaths from motor vehicle accidents, and we need to harness the same public health approach – including education and community outreach – to help keep Michigan children and families safe from firearm violence.”

What else the state is doing

To ensure federally licensed firearms dealers communicate the new requirements to their customers, MDHHS is working with the state Attorney General’s Office to provide dealers with safety information on the use and storage of firearms, requirements and penalties of the new laws and lethal means counseling literature.

To help defray the cost of purchasing firearm safety devices, additional legislation made these devices exempt from sales and use taxes through Dec. 24, 2024. Free gun safety kits can also be obtained through Project ChildSafe law enforcement partners across the state. MDHHS is also working with the Michigan State Police to make gun locks available; additional details of this partnership will be announced soon.

“The research underscores the crucial role safe firearm storage plays in safeguarding our children, families and communities,” said Holly Alway, Safe Kids Michigan president and Safe Kids West Michigan Coalition coordinator. “Michigan’s safe storage laws will help prevent tragic accidents like unintentional injuries, suicides and homicides. These laws prioritize safety and responsibility in every Michigan household and are a critical piece of a comprehensive and evidence-based approach to reducing firearm-related injuries and fatalities.”

“There are many options for parents and caregivers to obtain what they need to store their firearms safely,” said Pam Ford, coordinator, Safe Kids Greater South Haven, led by Bronson Healthcare. “In 2023, Bronson Healthcare helped raise awareness by launching a campaign for National Safety Month, making gun safety locks available at Bronson pediatrician offices and provided free cable locks at community events. Gun owners can also get free cable locks at local police departments – with no questions asked. The goal is to assist gun owners in southwest Michigan safely store their firearms.”

Additional gun safety laws going into effect protect Michigan communities by closing loopholes in the law and expanding universal background checks to all firearms as well as legislation that allows judges to order law enforcement to temporarily confiscate firearms from individuals they deem a risk to themselves or others.

For more information, visit the MDHHS Firearm Safety website.