Opioids in Macomb County

Opioids are a class of drugs that include pain relievers available legally with a prescription and illegal drugs like heroin and fentanyl. Prescription opioids, such as oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and morphine, can be prescribed by doctors to treat moderate to severe pain. When used appropriately, prescription opioids can be an important component of treatment. However, there are serious risks to using prescription opioids including misuse, abuse, opioid use disorder, overdose, and death. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid pain reliever that is many times more powerful than other opioids and is approved for treating severe pain, typically advanced cancer pain. However, illegally made and distributed fentanyl has been on the rise in the United States, including in Macomb County. Another illegal opioid is heroin. Heroin abuse has also increased throughout the United States among men and women, most age groups, and all income levels.

Opioids—prescription and illicit—are the main driver of drug overdose deaths. More than three out of five drug overdose deaths involve an opioid. In Macomb County specifically, there has been a rise in the number of drug-related deaths, particularly involving heroin, fentanyl, and controlled prescription drugs like Methadone, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Valium and Xanax which can be detected with toxicological analysis. Alcohol in combination with drugs can also be a contributory factor in these drug-related deaths.