Opioid Data
Washtenaw County has seen an increase in opioid-related deaths, as well as a continued presence of overdose deaths from other substances.
Opioids are a class of drugs used to reduce pain and are known to be addictive. Examples of opioids include synthetic opioids (e.g. fentanyl and fentanyl analogs), prescription painkillers (e.g. oxycodone, morphine, etc.), and heroin.
We define non-opioids in this data as any drug or substance not classified as an opioid, such as stimulants (e.g. cocaine, methamphetamine, etc.), alcohol, and non-opioid prescription medications (e.g. anti-depressants, anti-convulsants, acetaminophen, etc.).
Data note: all 2022 and 2023 data is preliminary and will continue to be updated.
2023 Opioid-related Deaths Among Washtenaw County Residents *
| Month | Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths | 6 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 45 |
2022 Opioid-related Deaths Among Washtenaw County Residents*
| Month | Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths | 7 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 80 |
2021 Opioid-related Deaths Among Washtenaw County Residents *
| Month | Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths | 9 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 78 |
Demographics of Opioid Overdose Deaths and EMS Responses, Jan-Oct 2023
| Opioid Overdose Deaths* | Opioid Overdose EMS Responses** | |
|---|---|---|
| Count | 45 | 450 |
| Male % | 58% | 61% |
| Median Age | 42 | 42 |
| Age Range | 16-67 | 11-97 |
*Source: Washtenaw County Medical Examiner, Michigan Electronic Death Registration System, and Washtenaw County Health Department
**Source: Emergency Medical Service (EMS) data submitted to Michigan EMS Information System (Mi-EMSIS) accessed through the BioSpatial platform. This data represents EMS responses to different events (or syndromes) as documented by EMS personnel.
Washtenaw County Opioid Reports
- Community Perspectives on the Michigan System for Opioid Overdose Surveillance (SOS), Sept 2021. Report prepared by UNIFIED HIV & Beyond and Public Health Innovation & Action.
Washtenaw County Health Department’s Opioid Reports provide information on opioid-related overdoses, deaths and trends occurring among Washtenaw County residents:
- NEW September 2023 (PDF) - Opioid and non-opioid overdoses deaths
- September 2022 (PDF) - Opioid and non-opioid overdoses deaths
- July 2021 (PDF) - Opioid and non-opioid overdoses deaths
- November 2019 (PDF) - Decreasing Opioid Prescriptions Filled And Increasing Amphetamine Prescriptions Filled
- August 2019 (PDF) - Repeat Overdoses
- April 2019 (PDF) - Opioid Related Poisonings by Zip Code
- Special Edition: The Healing Forest (PDF)- 48 Conversations About the Opioid Epidemic and Community Recovery in Washtenaw County. Or see the Healing Forest Executive Summary (PDF).
- See all Opioid Reports here.
Resources
Treatment
- Washtenaw County Community Mental Health provides information and crisis services 24/7 including holidays. Call 734-544-3050 or 800-440-7548 at any time.
- Substance use prevention and treatment services are coordinated by the Community Mental Health Partnership of Southeast Michigan. Call 734-344-6079 or 855-571-0021.
- For other treatment options, please visit the SAMHSA website. Or, call 800-662-HELP (4357) or 800-487-4889 (TDD). Assistance available in English and Spanish 24/7. You can find treatment providers by address, city, or zip code.
Data & Information
- Emerging Trend: Xylazine in Michigan, 2019-2022 Year-to-Date (report from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services)
- NEW: www.wtfentanyl.com created by a team of emergency physicians, toxicologists, and addiction medicine specialists who want to set the record straight about fentanyl exposures: "We are extremely experienced with fentanyl - both caring for patients with overdoses as well as using it medically to treat pain."
- July 2022 MMWR - Vital Signs: Drug Overdose Deaths, by Selected Sociodemographic and Social Determinants of Health Characteristics — 25 States and the District of Columbia, 2019–2020
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS): Opioid Resources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Fentanyl
- CDC SUDORS Data Brief, June 2022: Drug Overdose Deaths in 28 States and the District of Columbia: 2020 Data from the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System
- NCHS Data Brief, Number 428, December 2021: Drug Overdose Deaths in the United States, 1999–2020
- The Opioid Epidemic As A Lamp Post Presentation, Oct. 2019: Presentation by Adreanne Waller at 2019 Washtenaw Opioid Summit on Washtenaw County data, trauma, and beyond physical pain management
Local Organizations
- The Washtenaw Health Initiative Opioid Project brings together community members, law enforcement, public health, hospitals, community mental health, treatment facilities, and other providers to end the opioid epidemic.
- Families Against Narcotics: Washtenaw provides information, resources, and support. For more information, see www.familiesagainstnarcotics.org/washtenaw, call 734-210-9739, or email [email protected].
Naloxone
Learn about local Naloxone resources. See this page from the CDC on how and when to use Naloxone for an opioid overdose.