The MiBEST Study is a University of Michigan and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System research project aimed at understanding impacts of substance use in order to inform new ways to help people improve their health and wellbeing.
Study Email: MiBESTstudy@med.umich.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
What will my participation look like?
What might I get out of participation?
How will my information be kept secure and confidential?
Contact the MiBEST Study Team
Email: MiBESTstudy@med.umich.edu
Phone: Our study team may be calling from one of a variety of phone numbers including 734-707-6907, 734-496-9389, 734-660-6449, 734-210-7655 (for research participation); 734-615-4227 (for questions or concerns about the study)
Address: 2800 Plymouth Road, Building 16, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105
IRB Number: HUM#00229563
Research Team
Principal Investigators: Lara Coughlin, Ph.D. & Lewei (Allison) Lin, M.D., M.S.
Co-Investigators: Erin Bonar, Ph.D., Jason Goldstick, Ph.D., & Maureen Walton, Ph.D.
Study Coordinator: Chavez Rodriguez
Resources (Local and National)
Hotline and Crisis Support
Ann Arbor VA Main hospital phone: Call 734-769-7100
Ann Arbor VA Mental health care line: Call 734-845-3471
Michigan Peer Warmline: Call 1-888-PEER-753 (1-888-733-7753)
The warmline will connect individuals with certified peer support specialists who have lived experiences of behavioral health issues, trauma or personal crises, and are trained to support and empower the callers. Available from 10am - 2am each day.
Veteran Resources
NATIONAL
Alcohol & Other Substance Use Resources
For VAs and services: Make the Connection
Veterans can access resources through the VA, SAMHSA or the National Resource Directory all in one place.
Mental Health Resources
A list of resources to learn more about mental health conditions, support resources, and other information.
Veterans can learn mind-body techniques to strengthen their mental well-being.
Peer Support
Veterans and active-duty military can find free, confidential peer support from other veterans.
Phone: 1 855-838-8255
Veteran Affairs Services & Medical Centers
How to connect with Veteran Affairs services
You can search for your local VA facility by going to the following link and using the hospital locator on the left-hand side.
Then call the main number for that facility and tell them that you would like to enroll in VA care. Be prepared to provide your discharge paperwork to verify your military service.
Local, community-based confidential counseling centers that support war Veterans, service members, and military family members with post deployment readjustment services.
For assistance after hours, weekends, and holidays call: 1-877-WAR-VETS (1-877-927-8387)
MICHIGAN
Alcohol & Other Substance Use Resources
Ann Arbor VA Substance Use Disorder Clinic
VA healthcare system located in Ann Arbor.
Phone: 734-845-3471
Detroit VA Mental Health/Substance Use Clinic
VA healthcare system located in Detroit.
Phone: 313-576-1000 x61051
VA medical center located in Battle Creek.
Phone: 888-214-1247 x33680
Peer Support
Vet 2 Vet
A peer support group through VA. It is run by Veterans, for Veterans in recovery from anything—substance use, mental health issues, and/or physical issues. This group is for those who want to “Keep it real” and help each other work through problems caused by mental, physical, emotional, or social difficulties.
Phone: 734-845-5405 to join at Ann Arbor VA
Veteran Affairs Services & Medical Centers
Washtenaw County Veterans Affairs
The Washtenaw County Department of Veterans Affairs can help veterans, their survivors and dependents, file claims for benefits from Federal, State, and Local governments.
Phone: 734-973-4540
Mental Health & Substance Use Services
Find treatment for mental health or substance use in your area.
Support group for those who want to stop using drugs and/or are affected by the drug use of another person.
Support group for those who want to stop using alcohol.
Support community for those recovering from addiction with meetings online and in-person.
Peer-led and non-theistic recovery group offering meetings and resources for those healing from addiction based on Buddhist principles.
Online recovery tool that offers online meetings and resources.
Grief Support
Websites that provide advice, tips, and suggestions for those going through grief (e.g., loss of family members, partner(s), friends, pets, experiencing a miscarriage).
Learn about the myths and facts of fentanyl, as well as fentanyl testing strips
MICHIGAN
Community Mental Health Partnership of Southeast Michigan
Provides mental health services to adults residing in Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, and Washtenaw counties
Washtenaw County Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
Provides mental health services to all individuals in Washtenaw County, whether or not they have a diagnosis, insurance coverage, or the ability to pay for services
Phone: 734-544-3050 (24/7)
U-M Addiction Treatment Services Ann Arbor
Personalized treatment for individuals and families. Offers virtual visits.
Phone: 734-764-0231 or 800-525-5188
Provides substance use disorder treatment services and psychiatric services.
St. Mary Mercy Livonia Inpatient Program
Supports individuals 18 years or older in maintaining a sober lifestyle. Guided detoxification and recovery.
Phone: 734-655-4800
Henry Ford Hospital Addiction Care
Unified: HIV Health and Beyond
Provides multiple contacts, programs, and support groups to help people learn about substance use, overdose prevention, safer drug use strategies, and more.
Connects marginalized community members to their community to learn about things such as overdose prevention and response and provide individuals with testing, counseling, and sterile injection supplies.
Alcohol/Other Substance Support Groups for Friends & Family
NATIONAL
Support for those who have been impacted by another person’s alcoholism.
Call: 1888–4AL-ANON or 1 888-425-2666
Smart Recovery Family & Friends
Provides concerned significant others, family, or friends with the tools needed to help loved ones with substance use
Call: 440-951-5357
Provides support for any adult with a loved one who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition
MICHIGAN
Support and services to people who have been affected by addiction, including individuals with substance use disorder and their families
Call: 586-438-8500 or email: fn@familiesagainstnarcotics.org.
Understanding Overdose & Overdose Resources
An overdose is when a person takes more alcohol, drugs, or medications than their body can handle. This can lead to death.
What are symptoms of an overdose?
- Blacking out
- Difficulty breathing
- Skin turns blue or pale
- Heart beating too fast or too slow
- Heart attack
What affects my risk of overdose?
- Using drugs, alcohol, or prescription medications after not using them for a while
- Taking a lot of drugs, alcohol, or prescription medications, especially together.
- Taking even a small amount of drugs that is mixed with fentanyl or other opioids.
- Mixing alcohol, drugs, or medications
- Having an illness or disease that affects the heart or lungs
What should I do if I see someone overdose?
- Call 911 or take the person to the ER
- Roll the person on their side to prevent choking if they vomit
- Shake them, try to wake them up
- Provide CPR
- Administer Naloxone or Narcan if it possibly involves opioids
What is Naloxone?
Naloxone/Narcan quickly reverses an overdose by blocking the effects of opioids. You can administer Naloxone via injection, or even more conveniently, via nasal spray (Narcan). By having Naloxone, you could be prepared to save someone’s life!
Where can I obtain Naloxone?
Michigan passed a Naloxone standing order law, which allows select pharmacists to dispense Naloxone without a prescription. If you’re a Michigan resident and you or someone you know may be at a high-risk for an opioid overdose, you can have naloxone discreetly mailed to you at no cost
For more information on how to obtain Naloxone in Michigan, visit nextdistro.org/michigan
What else do I need to know?
- Many people don’t want to call 911 when they see an overdose because of fear of legal problems, but know that you could be saving someone’s life!
- You don’t have to tell the 911 dispatcher your name if you don’t want to.
- You also don’t have to tell the 911 dispatcher that anyone was using drugs but do tell the paramedics when they come so they can help the person better.
OTHER RESOURCES
Housing & Hunger Resources
Assists with food, health, housing, crisis, emergencies, and disaster relief. Call: 211
Public housing assistance and housing choice vouchers for teens, young adults, and adults.
Provides financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans in every state and U.S. territory.
Find a food bank in your area.
MICHIGAN
A network of Washtenaw County service agencies serving local residents with financial assistance for a variety of needs.
Organization providing financial assistance with rent, utilities, and internet access for Washtenaw County residents. Phone: 734-961-1999
Connects individuals and families in Michigan to state and local resources, as well as MDHHS benefit programs, to promote household stability.
LGBTQ+, Gender, & Sexual Identity Supports
NATIONAL
Hotline designed to connect trans people to community resources and support. Phone: 877-565-8860 between the hours of 10 AM and 4 AM EST
The LGBT National Help Center Line
This line provides peer-support and resource information to people with questions regarding sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Phone: 1 888-843-4564
American Psychological Association: Understanding Sexual Orientation and Identity
Accurate information for those who want to better understand sexual orientation.
Pregnancy, Childcare, & Parenting Services
PREGNANCY
- Using alcohol/drugs during the first stage of pregnancy can cause birth defects and miscarriage.
- During the last 12 weeks of pregnancy, alcohol/drug use can cause preterm births and fetal deaths.
- Drinking alcohol or using drugs while pregnant or breastfeeding might be harmful to the child. It may cause low birth weight and developmental delays.
For more information, read Substance Use in Women Research Report.
Information on Detoxing and Recovery for Pregnant People
Provides reproductive health care to people of all ages, gender identities, national origins, races, and sexual orientation. Phone: 1-800-230-PLAN (1-800-230-7526)
Payment: Insurance, Self-payment and Medicaid.
Education, Job Training, & Employment Services
NATIONAL
Health Services
Will help you find a health center that provides services regardless of your ability to pay and charge for services on a sliding fee scale.
One-stop access to U.S. government insurance marketplace to determine what insurance you are eligible for, preview plans, and get connected with organizations that will assist you in signing up.
Sexual Health Resources
What are STDs and HIV/AIDS?
- STD stands for Sexually Transmitted Disease, and are often also called STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections).
- Common STIs include herpes, syphilis, HPV, genital warts, Gonorrhea, and Chlamydia.
- HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus and causes AIDS
- HIV weakens the body’s ability to fight off infections. Therefore, people with AIDS develop serious infections and cancers
- A person can have any of these illnesses for months or years before any signs of illness appear
Why get tested for STDs or HIV?
- You cannot generally tell by looking at someone whether they have HIV or an STD. A person can be infected with HIV or an STD and not know it. Therefore, the only way to know if you are infected is to get tested.
- It is also important to find out if you are infected with HIV or STDs so that you can receive quality medical care. Some STDs can be cured with medication, and others can be treated to keep symptoms from bothering you. New treatments for HIV can help keep you healthy.
- It is important to find out if you are infected with HIV and STDs so that you can avoid activities that could infect someone else.
Where can I get tested?
- National HIV and STD testing
- Planned Parenthood
- Payment: Insurance, Self-payment and Medicaid
Violence Prevention Services & Resources
NATIONAL