Advocacy efforts to prevent overdoses
According to preliminary state data, overdose deaths in Michigan increased by 14 percent between 2019 and 2020. It is estimated that 2,684 overdose deaths occurred last year with over 300 deaths occurring in May 2020 alone. In response to the growing overdose epidemic, the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) continues to support policies and initiatives to prevent overdose deaths.
Over the past few years, the MSMS House of Delegates has adopted numerous resolutions to advance these efforts. Most recently the 2021 House of Delegates adopted Resolution 22-21,
Expanding Access to Medication for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder. The resolution calls on MSMS to support the elimination of the requirement of a waiver to prescribe buprenorphine, supports the removal of barriers to the use of medications for opioid use disorder, and encourages all undergraduate medical institutions to incorporate education on prescribing medications to treat opioid use disorders into their curricula. MSMS policy also recognizes the importance of harm reduction strategies to reduce overdose deaths. MSMS has policy related to increased availability and affordability of naloxone as well as expanded access to syringe services programs.