The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says patients can now opt out of taking opioids.
People can fill out a form online telling their doctors they want medication without opioids. Officials say this will help people who are at-risk of misusing opioids, including those with a history of an opioid disorder.
The directive is part of Michigan's plan to address the opioid epidemic.
“This law helps ensure nonopioid options to pain management are considered in the medical treatment of Michigan patients,” said Dr. Debra Pinals, MDHHS medical director of Behavioral Health and Forensic Programs. “Providing this supportive tool for patients to notify their health professionals that they are seeking alternatives for pain treatment is critically important for those who are most at-risk of misusing opioids, including those with a history of an opioid disorder.”
There are exceptions to the law, such as when an opioid is considered medically necessary for treatment.
The nonopioid directive form is at the bottom of the Michigan.gov Opioid Addiction Resources help page .
Michigan has been significantly affected by the national opioid epidemic. The number of annual opioid-related overdose deaths in the state have more than tripled since 2011, from 622 to 2,053.
