INTERVIEW 1 Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority (DWMHA) Region 7 From the desk of the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Director Darlene D. Owens One of our major concerns at DWMHA is addressing prescription drug abuse and heroin use in the Detroit Wayne County area. Our substance abuse admission data in Wayne County illustrates that our largest problem is heroin. • Mortality continues to increase steadily; 2015 saw a 15 percent increase from 2012 • Dominant primary drug of abuse in treatment admissions: 44 percent versus 5 percent for other opiates The Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Initiatives Department and Greater Detroit Area Health Council (GDAHC) co-hosted a Prescription Drug Abuse and Heroin Overdose Summit, Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance.The day began with a video conference from Lt. Gov. Brian Calley.The evaluations stated that the conference was on target, informative and educational.The conference highlighted medication assisted treatment, prevention and treatment efforts around the Detroit Wayne County area. DWMHA Region 7 established an SUD Team with Dr. Carl Christensen, WSU University Physician Group Tolan Center, LaJuana Scott, Nardin Park Recovery Center and Jackie Moore. Community Care Services presented to the 17th Annual Michigan Association of Treatment Court Professionals (MATCP) Conference held March 15th and March 16th at the Amway Hotel in Grand Rapids on medication assisted treatment in Wayne County and our efforts. DWMHA is expanding access to the lifesaving opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone, including equipping first responders with training and naloxone kits throughout Wayne County. 8 • Admissions are up, especially in the suburbs - doubling the number admitted with heroin as primary drug of abuse • However, there are still more admissions in Detroit versus suburbs DWMHA has launched several initiatives to address the deaths in our region.
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