The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has launched an online portal where community organizations can request free naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses and saves lives.
In 2018, opioid overdoses killed more than 2,000 Michiganders, or an average of five people every day.
Naloxone saves thousands of lives each year by reversing the effects of an opioid overdose. However, a recent study found that only 25 percent of individuals using opioids in southeast Michigan had access to naloxone.
“Getting naloxone into the hands of people who are most likely to be able to save a life is important,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health at MDHHS. “MDHHS is proud to partner with community organizations to make it as easy as possible to access free naloxone, reducing the devastation caused by the overdose epidemic.”
The portal is available to any community organization statewide, including substance use treatment providers, non-profits, harm reduction organizations, jails, first responders, local governments and small businesses.
MDHHS will review organizations’ plans for distributing naloxone, especially to individuals at high risk of overdose.
If approved, the organization will receive naloxone by mail; shipments are in increments of 12 kits and organizations are expected to have a plan for distribution and training for individuals at risk of overdose on how to use naloxone.
Separately, NEXT Naloxone has also partnered with MDHHS to offer individuals free naloxone delivered by mail. Providing naloxone by mail-order will help people who cannot access naloxone in their area, have insurance barriers or other challenges.
NEXT Naloxone is a free, online service that makes naloxone available to people who use drugs, their families and friends, and others who may witness and respond to an overdose.
NEXT Naloxone is available in Michigan through funding from Vital Strategies and a partnership with the harm-reduction organization The Grand Rapids Red Project. Individuals can place an order for mail delivery at Naloxoneforall.org/michigan.
To help community organizations plan their naloxone distribution strategy, MDHHS has also released a memorandum on the state’s strategy and guidance on naloxone distribution.
For more information, visit Michigan.gov/Opioids.
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
http://legalnews.com/subscriptions
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
http://legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
