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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Myorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Analysis: Michigan Taking Firm Action to Combat Opioid Crisis

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Tuesday, July 5, 2016   

LANSING, Mich. - The opioid epidemic is worsening in states around the nation, and Michigan is among states taking firm action to address the problem.

A legislative review from Stateline, a project of The Pew Charitable Trusts, highlights several bills introduced in Michigan this year that would stem the prescription of pain medication and help those who are addicted.

Scott Greenberger, Stateline’s executive director, says the number of overdose deaths from opioids has skyrocketed in recent years and almost every state is taking action.

"Whether it's putting new safeguards in place to prevent what is called doctor shopping or people going from doctor to doctor to get pills – to making an overdose antidote called naloxone more readily available," he explains.

The Michigan House recently passed legislation now under consideration by the Senate
(SB 793), allocating $2.5 million to overhaul the state's prescription tracking database.

Other bills would allow pharmacies to offer naloxone without prescription (SB 778 and
HB 5326), and allow training within school districts for its use. (SB 806 and HB 5379).

Greenberger says Gov. Rick Snyder's recent creation of a 17-member panel to examine the opioid problem also is an important undertaking.

"It's going to be comprised of state and independent health experts,” Greenberger explains. “And they'll be responsible for monitoring some of the indicators of this epidemic and trying to recommend policies to the governor involving licensing and law enforcement, treatment and prevention to do something about the problem."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were more than 1,700 deaths related to opioid overdose in Michigan in 2014, nearly triple the number since 1999.





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