The University of Michigan is a leader in addressing the opioid epidemic, which is the single deadliest drug epidemic in United States history, affecting people of all races and socioeconomic sectors across the nation.
Americans
die every day from an opioid overdose
million
prescriptions for painkillers were written in Michigan in 2015
million
Americans abuse or are dependent on prescription opioids
$ billion
Estimated annual cost to the U.S. economy caused by opioid overdoses
Projects & Research
Learn more about U-M research and education programs, as well as ways we are reaching communities and informing policy to prevent opioid misuse and overdose.
Centers & Institutes
Learn more about the innovative U-M centers and institutes working on the opioid epidemic with local, state and national partners.
Publications
Learn more about published research on opioids from our expert researchers.
The Michigan Difference
U-M draws on its interdisciplinary expertise to explore solutions to the opioid epidemic. Browse education and research projects, researchers, centers and publications to see the infrastructure and scope of work that allows U-M to facilitate collaborations with local, state and national partners.
Researchers
Learn about the researchers focused on understanding opioids, as well as how to reduce and prevent misuse and overdose. Search by keyword or topics to find potential collaborators.
News & Events
Blacks, whites equally as likely to be prescribed opioids for pain
MICHIGAN NEWS (By Laura Bailey) May 3, 2018 – Racial disparities in pain management have been well-documented, with doctors historically more willing to prescribe opiates to whites than to other racial and ethnic groups. But in light of new national policies to...
More funding needed in opioid battle, researcher says
MICHIGAN NEWS RELEASE (By Nardy Baeza Bickel) May 3, 2018 – More funding is needed to address the opioid epidemic that is projected to cost the United States economy $200 billion by 2020, a University of Michigan researcher says. In an article published in JAMA...
Patient Education ForUM
The next Patient Education ForUM is on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, 3:30-5:00. Susan Eggly Ph.D from Wayne State University will discuss how patient-provider communication can reduce racial healthcare disparities. Paul Hilliard MD and Alexandra Koumoutsopoulos B.S., R.N...