Local Michigan Government Leaders’ Perceptions of K-12 Schools on the Opioid Crisis

As opioid misuse has become one of the leading causes of death among young people in the United States, research shows that state and local government leaders have increased efforts at combating the epidemic, largely focused on treatment and recovery services. Using data on local officials’ opinions and perspectives on the problems with opioid from the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) at the University of Michigan, this study examined the extent to which local K-12 schools were associated with the perceived state of the opioid crisis. Results of a proportional odds model showed little evidence that the odds of the opioid crisis being better in a jurisdiction were higher when K-12 schools are perceived to be actively addressing the opioid issue. The findings of the study demonstrate the need for collaboration from stakeholders for both prevention and treatment to combat the opioid epidemic.