JANUARY 8, 2025
Michigan State University (MSU) is launching a new program aimed at educating adults in rural Michigan about opioid misuse by addressing various risk factors, including chronic pain and poor sleep.
The project, called MSU Extension, includes educational initiatives led by specialists in sleep and other relevant areas and is available both in person and online.
“Not only will this project make a real difference in the lives of people now, but the data we get from this project will be
Michigan State University (MSU) is launching a new program aimed at educating adults in rural Michigan about opioid misuse by addressing various risk factors, including chronic pain and poor sleep.
The project, called MSU Extension, includes educational initiatives led by specialists in sleep and other relevant areas and is available both in person and online.
“Not only will this project make a real difference in the lives of people now, but the data we get from this project will be invaluable in helping guide and inform future health initiatives as well,” said Maggie Magoon, a Michigan State University Extension health specialist.
MSU Extension consists of four key components:
1.Sharing educational information about the opioid crisis in the region through public awareness campaigns showing connections between sleep, pain and opioid use.
2.Increasing access to health classes to help manage pain, learn mindfulness and improve sleep. Two new program series will be available from MSU Extension: Tai Chi for Better Sleep and Mindfulness for Better Sleep.
3.Working with healthcare providers to refer and connect individuals with MSU Extension’s chronic pain and sleep management programs, including SLeep Education for Everyone (SLEEP) and Tai Chi.
4.Training local volunteers and MSU Extension staff to lead educational health sessions.
The goal of the three-year initial project is to reach at least 900 individuals across the state. Progress will be tracked through surveys monitoring sleep quality, pain reduction and decreased reliance on medications.
MSU Extension is funded, in part, by a $349,201 grant from the Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The grant will fund the program from September 2024 through August 2027.
“We know that when people are struggling to manage pain conditions or get a good night’s sleep, they are likelier to overuse or depend on opioids,” Magoon said. “The silver lining is that we also know we can make a difference by tackling those core issues.”
—Kenneth Walter
