Opioid management

Spectrum Health is committed to addressing the opioid crisis in meaningful and effective ways. There is no denying the scope and impact of this devastating epidemic. In 2018, the National Institute on Drug Abuse ranked Michigan in the top 25% of states for lives lost and according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), about 78% of these drug overdose deaths involved at least one opioid. With these overwhelming statistics, nearly everyone has been touched in some way by this epidemic. 

Spectrum Health's approach has been to inform and educate our patients, members and employees on the potential danger of opioids. We worked to implement the new laws with the goal of always providing the best and safest treatment to our patients. We also see it as our responsibility to educate the greater community about the risks associated with prescription opioid medication and to partner with organizations to provide safe and responsible ways to dispose of prescription drugs. Through a collaborative effort, we hope to continue to decrease the effects of the opioid epidemic on our communities.