Critics say Michigan’s addiction treatment locator plagued by access and data issues
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If you're new here, the short version: the State of Michigan built an addiction treatment locator, launched it despite knowing it was broken, and continues to actively promote a broken resource.
Will there be accountability? Will there be a functional way for people to find evidence-based addiction treatment in Michigan? Stay tuned to find out!
Will there be accountability? Will there be a functional way for people to find evidence-based addiction treatment in Michigan? Stay tuned to find out!
🚨Important coverage from Kyle Davidson at Michigan Advance this morning about the MiSUD addiction treatment locator tool still being broken two months after our testimony (and ~18 months after launch).
Hits on all the highlights (lowlights):
- Doesn't work on mobile (still)
- Doesn't route people to the PHIP (Michigan-specific thing IYKYK)
- Doesn't have all the places it should and has places it shouldn't
- Privacy issues
- Doesn't have relevant data for folks (pregnant, co-occuring, etc)
- The website can't fix the biggest problem, which is that no matter the website the treatment infrastructure is a nightmare to navigate with multiple phone calls and other barriers
Again, this is the format MDHHS considers to be usable on mobile (that's real):
What we're (still) demanding
We continue to call on MDHHS to rethink tools like the MiSUD Addiction Treatment Locator and view them as critical government infrastructure.
OPI's recommendations to address this problem:
- Immediately halt promotion of the MiSUD Locator until its deficiencies are resolved. (They just promoted it again on Facebook a couple of weeks ago.)
- Redirect MiSUD web traffic to FindTreatment.gov
- Establish accountability for the decisions to launch and promote a tool known to be deficient.
- This lands at the MDHHS director's desk, who said, “I am proud of the work we have done to expand access to substance use disorder treatment for Michigan families,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “This tool can help residents find treatment and recovery locations across the state to ensure they are connected to the services they need when and where they need them.”
- Seriously.
- Engage the public in a genuine evaluation of whether Michigan should build a proper state-level locator and what that would entail.
Let us know what you think and what you're seeing in your community. We're here to help and open to feedback.
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Remember: This addiction treatment locator website was launched during an addiction crisis.
People are trying to find life-saving services.
If you announce a way for people to find life saving services, people are going to use it... so it better work.
People are trying to find life-saving services.
If you announce a way for people to find life saving services, people are going to use it... so it better work.
Check out the news coverage:
The backstory
MiDUD (Part 3)
I doubt that’s what MVP means... why “good enough” isn’t good enough for public health infrastructure
Jonathan JK Stoltman (PhD)
MiDUD (Part 2)
UPDATE: We Testified Before the Michigan Legislature Yesterday
Jonathan JK Stoltman (PhD)
MiDUD (Part 1)
Behind the scenes of the disastrous Michigan’s MiSUD addiction treatment locator website
Jonathan JK Stoltman (PhD)
Opioid Policy Institute by Jonathan JK Stoltman, PhD is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
