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Since 2000, opioid overdose deaths have increased ten-fold in Michigan, according to the state's website Michigan.gov. In fact, in 2018, there were more deaths in Michigan from drug overdoses than care crashes.

In Ecorse, a new initiative is in the early stages to address the opioid crisis there. The Ecorse Department of Public Safety has partnered with Beaumont Health's Quick Response Team to bring resources in a compassionate way and offer a lifeline to those struggling with opioid addiction and their families. The Quick Response Team (QRT) is affiliated with Beaumont's Taylor Teen Center and pairs peer recovery coaches and family coaches with police officers to reach those in the community in need of assistance with substance abuse. "This is a little different working with the officers, it's more to get the connection and meeting the people where they're at. It's a much different pitch than somebody volunteering coming in because we're actually going to them and doing a much different type of scenario," says John Ray, Peer Recovery Coach and Projects Coordinator for Beaumont Health.

Since mid-September, the peer recovery coaches with Beaumont's QRT have been paying weekly home visits to residents who struggle with addiction or have had a recent overdose. The recovery coaches are accompanied by Ecorse Police Officers, a move which Ecorse Director of Public Safety Narda Bruno says changes the perception of police officers. "I believe my officers are building a rapport with them (addicts) as well," she says. "When they see them with the quick response team, they know that they have a person who also knows what they're going through and that is willing to help and knows how to reach out and get help for them also."

Ecorse Police Officer Cody Staub agrees, saying that unfortunately when people see the police, they assume someone is in trouble. "So now, we're knocking on the door and saying, 'you're not in trouble but we understand you had an incident last week and we're here for that.'" He says they then explain the reason for their visit is to encourage a recovery program and to provide resources for the family.Ecorse Police Officers who participate with the QRT Program receive additional training to advance their knowledge of addiction, how to best offer help to those affected, along with additional training in the use of Narcan to reverse an overdose in progress.

The QRT's Family Coach Taylor Buell says one goal is to bridge the gap to services. "A lot of it being getting people treatment instead of them feeling hopeless," she says. "Not only are we talking to the person who's overdosed recently, we're here to help the family with anything they may need as well."

"Our main goal is to get overall treatment for the family but you have to deal with the core part of it, so our first goal is to go in with the addict," says Ray. "Addiction affects the family as well so you have a ripple effect that happens when dealing with the addiction, so you've got to go into it dual-headed. If you don't get to the core, which is the addict first, then deal with the offshoots of that, it's a cycle and you can't break it." Ray says that every situation is completely different and keeping a line of communication open and letting the addict know they can get into a treatment program at any time, and that the QRT Team will help often makes treatment appear less intimidating. Peer recovery coaches work with the addict to come clean while family coaches work with family members to address physical and emotional needs as recovery becomes a family venture.

Americans are living longer these days and that can mean more surgical procedures such as hip and joint replacements, cardiac procedures, and cancer surgeries. Chronic pain due to osteoarthritis or nerve damage is very real to many over the age of 50. Often doctors and hospitals prescribe opioid pain pills for these conditions, which can unintentionally lead to addiction.

Ray adds fentanyl is now being mixed with regular over-the-counter medicines, taking a medication intended for good use and turning it into a dangerous drug. "I've been a peer recovery coach for three years, so I've bene active in this type of environment. Scenario and playing field have definitely changed; I don't think people are truly chasing opiates, they're chasing fentanyl, which is playing with fire," he says. "Fentanyl is now being introduced into other substances; that is a game-changer, being added into cocaine, cannabis, everything, because the high is so much more heightened."

All involved agree that the program is helping to change the stigma associated with addiction. "I think that's the biggest thing in doing this that I've seen the return on is that it's just a group of people going out with the common good of wanting what's best for that person," says Ray. "They're not addicts, they're not bad people, they're sick, and the officers aren't there to lock them up. It's just genuinely caring about that person and trying to change their life."