In 2023, the University of Michigan’s Poverty Solutions and the Overdose Prevention Engagement Network (OPEN) partnered together to create a landscape map of Michigan and accompanying analysis that shows demographic information from 2019 with a connection to opioid use disorder, examining data such as unemployment rates, annual income, opioid-related hospitalizations, and physical and mental health and well-being.
In this analysis, the two groups identified three county clusters across Michigan that have been especially affected by the opioid epidemic. These clusters included the Bay County cluster (Genesse, Saginaw, Bay, Arenac, Iosco, and Alcona), The Marquette County cluster (Marquette, Baraga, Dickinson, Delta, and Menominee), and the Wayne-Macomb-St. Clair County cluster (Wayn, Macomb, St. Clair).
These updates unveil new analysis on opioid trends in Michigan ranging from overdose deaths, EMS response rates, and hospitalizations.
UPDATES TO BAY COUNTY CLUSTER
According to new data from 2023, Iosco and Genesee counties of the Bay County cluster both saw increased rates of age-adjusted deaths from opioid poisoning. Three counties rank in the top ten for EMS responses, and two were in the top five for opioid and heroin treatment. This cluster overall saw a decrease in poverty and unemployment rates since 2019. Residents in these counties also reported better physical health, though four counties did reportedly slightly lower mental health scores.
UPDATES TO MARQUETTE COUNTY CLUSTER
In 2019, two counties in the Marquette County cluster (Dickinson and Delta) ranked in the top ten counties for per person opiate prescription rates. In 2023, though both counties saw a decrease, they still remain in the top ten across Michigan. In 2019, Baraga County led the state in rate of admissions for opioid treatment and, encouragingly, in 2024 they are no longer the leading county in this category. Though this cluster still exhibits signs of opioid use disorder, its crisis indicator rates are not as high as other parts of the state.
UPDATES TO WAYNE-MACOMB-ST. CLAIR COUNTY CLUSTER
In 2019, the Wayne-Macomb-St. Clair County cluster was among the highest in the state for age-adjusted rates for opioid deaths, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits. Wayne and Macomb counties saw an increase in their age-adjusted rates for fatal opioid poisoning. However, in 2024, all three counties saw a decrease in poverty rates. The cluster overall saw a decrease in residents aged 18-64 who didn’t have access to health insurance. Despite this, this cluster remains one of the state’s top hotspots for opioid activity.
NEW ANALYSIS SHOWS ADDITIONAL HOTSPOTS
The updated analysis shows a new cluster hotspot that is emerging on the west coast of the state. The Muskegon-Manistee County cluster (Muskegon, Oceana, Mason, and Manistee counties) have seen their crisis indicators increase since 2019. Muskegon County ranks first in the state for EMS response for probable opioid overdoses per 100,000, increasing from 189 to 281.1 (a 49% increase). Muskegon and Manistee counties were among the top ten for admissions rates for opioid treatment.
LOOKING FORWARD
Both Poverty Solutions and OPEN hope that organizations will continue to use this data and for engaging with these communities to improve health for all Michiganders OPEN programming is prioritized for high-impact counties. Apply for a program today!
