Detroit launches Quick Response Team to address opioid crisis

Detroit launched a new Quick Response Team (QRT) this month aimed at tackling the opioid crisis more effectively.

Funded by a city grant, the initiative will provide immediate support for individuals who experience opioid overdoses.

According to the city of Detroit, the opioid epidemic killed 430 people in the city in 2023 alone — or over 15% of the state’s total. The Detroit Fire Department used naloxone (also known as Narcan) — a medication that reverses overdoses — 2,400 times on medical calls that same year. However, many of those individuals declined transportation to a hospital, and even those who agree to be taken in struggled to get connected to ongoing treatment, the city reported. 

The QRT, consisting of 12 dedicated team members, will coordinate with ambulance and fire department personnel to ensure those affected receive comprehensive follow-up care. The team will follow up within 1-3 hours if individuals decline hospital treatment or within 2-3 days if they are admitted.

“We’ll help them with anything that they need. From working with them with harm reduction, working with peer coaches, family coaches for the family if they want to get in the treatment, we will make sure they’re getting treatment. We would do all the footwork for them,” said Thomas Hunton, Project Manager of the QRT.

Operating 24/7, the team includes professionals with diverse backgrounds, such as community health workers and individuals in recovery.

Despite these efforts, the opioid crisis remains a significant concern in Detroit and across the nation. Experts stress the need for increased mental health resources to effectively address substance abuse and its underlying causes. The QRT represents a crucial step in providing hope and support for those affected by this ongoing epidemic.

For more information or assistance, individuals can visit the program’s website or call 833-202-4673.