Beginning in 2014, lawsuits were issued against pharmacies and pharmaceutical drug companies for their role in fueling the opioid crisis. Local and state governments incurred significant costs due to the crisis.
In 2021, over 75% of the nearly 107,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States involved opioids.
As a result of settlements reached with pharmacies and pharmaceutical drug companies, Michigan and local governments will receive payments from these entities.
Oakland County is currently estimated to receive approximately $35 million over the next two decades.
Additional Info
- In Oakland County, from 2019 to 2021, there was a 68% increase in all drug overdose deaths.
- During 2021, Oakland County had 180 drug overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids which was a 119.5% increase in synthetic opioid involved deaths compared to 2020.
- Between October 2021 and September 2022, Black individuals in Oakland County died from drug overdose at a rate 1.7 times the rate of white individuals (41.4 per 100,000 vs. 24.3 per 100,000).
- Between October 2021 and September 2022, men in Oakland County died from drug overdose at a rate nearly 3 times the rate among women (37.6 per 100,000 vs. 13 per 100,000).
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS) administered 1,156 units of Naloxone to patients in Oakland County from June 2022 to June 2023.
- Oakland County's Harm Reduction program distributed 2,670 Narcan kits resulting in 188 reported rescues to date in 2023.
- Narcan Distribution Sites: Opioid prevention, treatment and recovery resources including a new map highlighting free Narcan distribution sites at oakgov.info/opioidresources.
- Harm Reduction: In 2021, we launched the first Harm Reduction program in Oakland County, in downtown Pontiac. Harm Reduction engages people who use drugs to prevent overdoses and infectious disease transmission, improve the physical, mental, and social well-being of those served, and increase access to substance use treatment and other health care services.
- Prevention Programs: We provide substance use prevention programs to youth and adults, including evidence-based curriculum options for schools using grant funds from Oakland Community Health Network.
- Prescription Drug Take Back: Oakland County Sheriff's Office sponsors a prescription drug take back program called Operation Medicine Cabinet which provides citizens with locations to properly dispose of their expired and/or unused prescriptions anonymously.
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT): is currently offered to Oakland County Jail inmates. MAT is given to people with opioid use disorder and may help people maintain recovery.
