Opioids Task Force News Today

An advisory group formed to help Michigan tackle high rates of opioid overdoses in communities of color has been disbanded by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration.

An advisory group formed to help Michigan tackle high rates of opioid overdoses in communities of color has been disbanded by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration, leading to hard feelings.

An advisory group formed to help Michigan tackle high rates of opioid overdoses in communities of color has been disbanded by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's administration, leading to hard feelings among some members who say their work is being buried.

The state spent $148,000 on a racial equity group to offer advice on how to spend hundreds of millions of dollars in opioid settlement funds. But after issuing recommendations, the group said it was ‘silenced.’ 

Michigan has already been awarded $800 million of settlement money from the $26 billion national lawsuit. It is to be paid out over several 18 years.

Whitmer signed an executive order on Thursday, Sept. 29, that adjusts the membership of the Opioid Task Force she created and adds 10 local government representatives.

Michigan has already been awarded $800 million of settlement money from the $26 billion national lawsuit. It is to be paid out over several 18 years.