University of Michigan Teams Up with Harvard Against Opioid Crisis

The University of Michigan is teaming up with Harvard and the National Academy of Medicine to fight the opioid epidemic with new knowledge. A free webcast of the Michigan/Harvard opioid summit will share new findings from various efforts to study and address the current opioid crisis from many angles.

Around 130 Americans are dying every day from opioid-related overdoses. Two million people are suffering from disorders related to prescription and non-prescription opioids. And these are only a few of the reasons why the University of Michigan is ramping up efforts to make a bigger impact on the opioid epidemic. The university is doing it through research and the expertise of its faculty and teams.

U-M recently joined the national effort to address the opioid crisis by becoming part of the National Academy of Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Countering the U.S. Opioid Epidemic. At the same time, the university also opened up registration for the free public webcast of a day-long summit on opioid-related issues, which is being co-hosted with Harvard University.

“Researchers across all three of our campuses are actively seeking solutions to reduce opioid overdose, as well as effective strategies to address pain,” said Rebecca Cunningham, M.D., associate vice president for research and director of the U-M Injury Prevention Center. “Through our participation in the National Academy’s new effort and our partnership with Harvard, we hope to accelerate our efforts to get this new knowledge to the people who can use it most.”

The NAM collaborative brings together more than 100 organizations across the country. This includes community organizations, academia, hospital, and medical systems, and even non-profit organizations. U-M has committed to sharing information and best practices and coordinating opioid-related efforts. The collaborative will also allow the universities to advance new initiatives together.

Founded in 2018 in collaboration with the Aspen Institute, the Action Collaborative on Countering the U.S. Opioid Epidemic is a public-private partnership that was designed to develop and disseminate various solutions to the opioid epidemic. It is committed to reducing opioid misuse while improving outcomes for individuals, families, and communities that are affected by the crisis.

“The opioid epidemic is one of the most devastating public health crises of the modern era, impacting individuals, families, and communities across the nation,” said Victor J. Dzau, president of the National Academy of Medicine “The complexity of this crisis requires sustained commitment from all stakeholders: health systems, federal and state governments, community organizations, provider groups, payers, industry, nonprofits, and academia.

Reversing the opioid epidemic requires a multi-sectoral response — no organization, agency, or sector can solve this problem on their own. NAM is privileged to lead this action collaborative, which will work to develop collective solutions and advance those with the most potential to reverse or stem the crisis. We are thrilled to see such a robust commitment from organizations across the country in joining with us to be part of the solution.” Click the link to see Omaha's top rehab placement programs.

The opioid summit will feature more than 400 invited guests to the event titled “Opioids: Policy to Practice”. The webcast will be available worldwide. U-M President Mark Schlissel will open the event, while U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Admiral Brett P. Giroir, M.D., will give the keynote address.

The summit aims to give policymakers, community health leaders, families, and the business community the latest findings from U-M and Harvard research as well as updates on new initiatives and public policies aimed at addressing the opioid crisis.

“Large research universities, especially ones with academic medical centers like our Michigan Medicine, have tremendous power to help society overcome major issues like this epidemic,” said Cunningham. “By pooling our knowledge and connecting with the community, we have already made a difference, but we have a tremendous sense of urgency about doing more.”

If someone in the family is struggling with opioid or alcohol addiction, it is important to seek help. A combination of medical detox and behavioral therapy can go a long way in the fight against drug abuse. But because every individual is affected by addiction differently, a comprehensive program tailored to their specific needs is necessary. Look for a nearby addiction treatment facility today and find out how drug treatment programs work.