Virtual opioid epidemic town hall Dec. 3

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services ( MDHHS) and the Michigan Opioids Task Force will host a fifth virtual town hall to learn more about how the opioid epidemic has impacted different regions of the state.

The Macomb and Oakland counties virtual opioids town hall is Thursday, Dec. 3, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. and attendees can join the event online at https:// bit. ly/3qkE57V. To ensure in

formation gathered reflects the experience of the community, residents are asked to only participate in the virtual town hall if they reside in Southeast Michigan.

During 2018, there were 2,599 drug poisoning deaths, including 2,036 opioid poisoning deaths, among Michigan residents. According to the National

Institute on Drug Abuse, there were 67,367 drug overdose deaths reported nationwide in 2018, with opioids involved in 46,802 of those deaths accounting for nearly 70% of all overdose deaths.

During the town hall, MDHHS and the Michigan Opioids Task Force will share the 2020 strategy to turn the tide on the crisis, seek feedback from the public and host a Qand-A about the crisis response.

Information gathered during the town hall will help the state develop a crisis response that is flexible; effective to fit the needs of the community; and informed by the experiences of Michiganders affected by the crisis.

A few key questions will guide the conversation:

• How has the opioid epidemic affected you, your family or your community?

• What services, programs or policies would you recommend to help address the crisis?

• How can the state help combat stigma and change the narrative around opioid use disorder?