Feb 12, 2026
A patient, his doctor and other experts warn of dangers of 7-OH, which is touted as a derivative of kratom and is widely available, but packs far more opioid danger When Nathan B. got a free sample pill from his local smoke shop clerk, he never imagined that it would lead him to lose his […]
Jan 27, 2026
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Awareness Month (also known as SUD Treatment Month and SUD Treatment Awareness Month) was launched in January 2025 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in order to raise awareness on the impacts of SUD, highlight the importance of stigma reduction, and provide support. SUD is a chronic […]
Dec 17, 2025
Hello, Happy Holidays! As we enter this season of reflection and connection, we invite our community to come together to help reduce stigma—not only across our state, but around the world. Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is a chronic illness that affects the brain, particularly areas involved in reward, motivation, and memory. The language we use when […]
Oct 28, 2025
Safe Storage and Disposal refers to the management of unused, unwanted, and expired medications in order to protect your family, community, and the environment. There are a variety of ways to practice safe storage and disposal, ranging from locking pill vials to medication deactivation bags. In order to help our community stay safe, OPEN offers […]
Sep 25, 2025
Model endorses use of an underused medication known to reduce overdose deaths by half A warmline that will quickly connect people with opioid use disorder to buprenorphine, a potentially lifesaving medication, will launch Sept. 29. The University of Michigan’s Overdose Prevention Engagement Network, or OPEN, developed the new service with support from the state of Michigan, […]
Sep 25, 2025
National Opioid Awareness Day on Sunday, Sept. 21 is more than just a date on the calendar. It’s a reminder that while Michigan has made real progress against opioid overdoses, the crisis is far from over. We have to keep going. As an anesthesiologist, a physician specializing in anesthesia, I work with some of the […]
Sep 25, 2025
Hello, Happy Fall! As we begin to notice the fall colors appear, OPEN is excited to announce the soft launch of our newest service: The OPEN Warmline! Through the Warmline, a person calling will be able to access same-day telehealth care for a buprenorphine prescription to treat opioid use disorder or be connected to a […]
Aug 12, 2025
University of Michigan Health-West has installed a new naloxone vending machine at its Community Clinic, located at 781 36th Street SE in Wyoming, thanks to a statewide initiative aimed at reducing preventable opioid overdose deaths. Provided by the Overdose Prevention Engagement Network (OPEN), the vending machine offers free access to naloxone, a medication that can rapidly reverse […]
Jul 22, 2025
In May of 2025, Painless: The Opioid Musical traveled up north to perform for the first time in the Upper Peninsula. The tour included 4 high school shows and 1 community performance, with more than 800 people, including 700 high school students, from Marquette and Iron counties in attendance. Painless: The Opioid Musical began as […]
Jul 11, 2025
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 […]
Jun 18, 2025
Hello, Happy summer 2025! We’re excited to connect with you and share the latest updates, helpful resources, and upcoming events designed to support your work and community. Clinicians, do you wish there was a way to “phone a friend” and get advice on working with patients who are experiencing complex pain or living with a […]
Jun 4, 2025
Key Findings In the two years before the email intervention started in 2021, surgeons overprescribed opioids about 35 to 40 percent of the time. Two types of emails to “nudge” surgeons to prescribe in ways that more closely adhere to recommendations (one based on peer behavior and one based on guideline amounts) led surgeons to […]
