September 2025: Drug-Free Pain Management Awareness Month

WHEREAS, the overuse and misuse of prescription opioid painkillers leading to addiction and catastrophic outcomes has become a statewide and national crisis; and, 

WHEREAS, drug overdose is a leading cause of accidental death in the United States, with provisional data released by the federal government estimating that nearly 79,383 people died from drug overdoses in 2024; and, 

WHEREAS, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than one million people have died since 1999 from a drug overdose; and, 

WHEREAS, opioids were involved in 81,607 overdose deaths in 2022 (75.8% of all national drug overdose deaths), and approximately 68% of all drug overdose deaths in 2024, according to provisional data released by the federal government; and, 

WHEREAS, opioid addiction is driving this epidemic, as, provisional 2022 data from the CDC suggests that more than 80 percent of nearly 3,000 drug overdose deaths in Michigan were related to opioids; and, 

WHEREAS, Michigan was hit particularly hard by this crisis, with opioid overdoses killing about 3,100 residents in 2021—roughly eight per day; by 2024, fatalities fell by more than one-third from the prior year, a steeper drop than the national rate, though the crisis still claims about four lives daily in Michigan; and,

WHEREAS, in 2023, Michigan health care providers wrote 47.9 opioid prescriptions for every 100 Michiganders, compared to the national average of 37.5 opioid prescriptions for every 100 Americans; and,  

WHEREAS, prescription opioids are often recommended for the management of low back, neck, and musculoskeletal pain, and more than 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, with an estimated 80 percent of all Americans experiencing some form of back pain during their lifetime; and,  

WHEREAS, my administration and the Michigan Legislature have made it a high priority to combat this health care crisis and save lives by addressing prescription drug misuse and opioid use disorder; and,  

WHEREAS, recognizing the diverse needs of people across our state, Michiganders have access to numerous avenues for effective pain management beyond traditional prescription drugs, ensuring that Michiganders can explore a range of comprehensive and holistic approaches to alleviate pain and enhance their overall well-being; and, 

WHEREAS, drug-free forms of health care, including chiropractic care, physical therapy, and other treatments, play an important role in helping to ease the immense burden of pain management facing our state; 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim September 2025 as Drug-Free Pain Management Awareness Month in Michigan.