Southeast of Grand Rapids, Hastings is battling opioid addiction and other challenges as it maintains its easy-going character. Bridge pays a visit during its 2018 Truth Tour.
Opioids in Michigan
Posted inQuality of Life
Michigan falls short in frontline treatment for opioid crisis
The state, hard hit by opioid deaths, has a shortage of doctors trained to prescribe medication that’s critical to recovery.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | When doctors don’t do their homework, they enable opioid abuse
To reduce drug abuse, a new law requires doctors to check a patient’s drug history on a state database before prescribing dangerous narcotics. But the law only works if doctors follow it.
Posted inPhil's Column
U-M leading drive to cut opioids given after surgery
The University of Michigan Medical School is teaming with public health officials and insurers to curtail doctors who overprescribe opioids for pain, leading to addiction and abuse.
Posted inMichigan Government
Amid opioid crisis, few doctors use Michigan’s outdated drug monitoring tool
Michigan’s online system is supposed to detect physicians and patients who abuse prescription painkillers. But the current version is so slow most doctors don’t even bother. And a bill to update the system hardly seems a cure-all.