Latest news with #WashtenawCountyHealthDepartment
CBS News
6 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Drug overdose deaths down 25% in Washtenaw County, health officials say
Overdose deaths in Washtenaw County dropped dramatically, according to a new report from the Washtenaw County Health Department. The department found deaths from drug overdoses dropped 25% between 2023 and 2024. This report comes as Washtenaw County also reaches a nine-year low in opioid related overdose deaths, a huge turnaround in a trend that was increasing every year between 2019 and 2022. Experts are thanking the accessibility of emergency treatments like naloxone. They're giving them away for free at the Washtenaw Health Department, as you can't put a price on saving someone's life. They say it's a big reason why total overdose deaths went down from 88 in 2023 to 66 in 2024. "We're really attributing the decrease to a lot more resources being available in our county. We have the naloxone kits pretty widely available in the county, including here at Towner. We have a vending machine where free naloxone can be taken," said WCHD health promotion coordinator Deanna Price. While 42 is the fewest number of opioid related overdose deaths for the county in the past nine years, nearly all of them still involved fentanyl in 2024 (93%), just like in 2023 (95%). Price says fentanyl testing strips are also free at the health department and can easily save someone from making a fatal mistake. "So the goal is really making it as accessible as possible, where people can easily grab these kits and then have them when they're using. Knowing that you can test these things before using may be making using a bit safer," Price said. With $16 million in opioid settlement funds over the next 18 years, the health department is already reviewing grant proposals from local organizations that also want to see overdose numbers continue to drop. "We've had several organizations apply for this RFP and they'll be scored. Then we hope to have the final award recipients sometime this summer," Price said. The Washtenaw Health Department created a list of locations you can pick up free Narcan (brand name naloxone) and fentanyl testing strips, while also compiling a checklist of how to decrease your risk of an overdose if you're using: • Test drugs using fentanyl test strips • Avoid using alone and take turns when using with others • Take care if you have not used in a while • Avoid mixing drugs, including alcohol • Have naloxone ready and know how to use it
CBS News
16-04-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Washtenaw County Health Department urging measles vaccine to prevent spread
Measles cases have been reported in several Michigan counties, and some local health departments are trying to stop the spread before it's detected in their area. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the MMR vaccine contributed to the elimination of the disease from the U.S., but a downward trend in vaccinations has made people susceptible to its reintroduction from other parts of the world. No cases have been reported in Washtenaw County this year, but officials say it could put children's health and education at risk. Ann Arbor Public Schools says it will follow state guidelines if a measles case is detected at one of its schools. This means unvaccinated students will not be able to go to school or participate in school activities for a minimum of 21 days. The Washtenaw County Health Department says the guidelines are because of how easily it spreads among unvaccinated people. "Nine of 10 people, if they're not protected by vaccine or prior illness, are going to become ill if they're exposed," said county health department spokesperson Susan Ringler-Cerniglia. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) says the vaccine provides lifelong immunity and is 97% effective in preventing measles. Health officials suggest vaccine hesitancy is related to a 1998 study that linked the vaccine to the development of autism, but they claim the data used in that study was fraudulent. Ringler-Cerniglia says the MMR vaccine has a long history of being safe and effective. "This is a vaccine that's been around for a long time, it's been tested, it's incredibly safe, and it's incredibly effective. If you're not up to date, it's a great time to consider doing that because it's going to prevent illness, it's going to prevent spread, and it will prevent kids being kept out of school," she said. She says the vaccine is covered by most insurance plans and is widely available at family doctors, pharmacies and even the health department itself.
