Published: 08/12/2026 | Author: Courtney Myers

Forty-eight individuals succumbed to drug-related overdoses across Mid-Michigan in early 2026. A first-quarter report from the medical examiner’s office at University of Michigan Health Sparrow offers additional details. 

To be clear, the overall count has dropped, and that’s a credit to Michigan’s wide range of clinical and relief programs, including local Narcotics Anonymous chapters. But the report describes a change in what people are using, and that change has direct consequences for how overdoses are reversed.

Chief Investigator Michelle Fox observed the shift toward stimulants stands out. “We’re seeing a lot more amphetamines, cocaine, more stimulants in this quarter,” she explained, describing the shift as different from prior periods.

The Mid-Michigan Numbers for Early 2026

Ingham County recorded 20 deaths, the highest of any county in the region during the quarter. Eaton County recorded four, two of which officials classified as suicides with prescription medications. Clinton County recorded three. The numbers may seem small, but each death leaves behind grieving loved ones and shattered communities.

In Ionia County, authorities warned about a synthetic chemical designed to mimic THC, which officials link to four deaths.

The people who died ranged in age from 10 to 75. The report listed one case in the county as an indeterminate manner of death for a 10-year-old, but suspected methadone toxicity.

Fentanyl and Stimulant Mixes are Harder to Reverse

The clinical significance of the trend sits in this detail. Opioids including fentanyl are being mixed with stimulants such as cocaine or methamphetamine, and those combinations aren’t always reversible by naloxone alone.

Fentanyl is up to 100x deadlier than morphine. It appears in the illegal street trade of counterfeit pills and often mixed into powders without the buyer’s knowledge. Even a tiny dose causes respiratory depression.

That’s where naloxone comes in. It works by displacing opioids from receptors in the brain and restores breathing in an opioid overdose. It doesn’t affect stimulant toxicity, which can produce agitation, hyperthermia, seizures, and cardiac events. When both fentanyl and stimulants are present, reversing the opioid doesn’t resolve the stimulant effects, and the person still needs emergency medical care.

Driving the Change

Deborah Smith is clinical director at Wellness, InX, an addiction treatment center in Lansing. She pointed out the trend didn’t surprise her. In her assessment, the shift toward stimulants tracks with economic conditions, with stimulant use rising in stronger economies and opioid use in weaker ones. 

Smith also pointed to the role of community involvement. She described a need for people willing to hold others accountable while continuing to support them. Folks with a substance use disorder can connect with local resources because any amount of an illicit substance can be fatal.

Treatment and Peer Support Options

Naloxone, sold under brand names including Narcan, is an opioid antagonist available over the counter as a nasal spray. It’s safe to give if you’re unsure whether an overdose involves opioids because it does no harm when no opioids are present.

For opioid misuse, medication is the treatment with the strongest evidence base. Methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone are FDA-approved and typically accompany counseling. 

Stimulant abuse currently doesn’t have any approved medications. Treatment centers on behavioral approaches, including contingency management and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Peer support works alongside these, not against them. Narcotics Anonymous meetings are free and open to all. Some people find NA sufficient on its own. Others combine it with medication, therapy, or a treatment program. All are legitimate paths.

NA for Narcotic Addiction in Michigan & Beyond

Our browsable directory features NA meetings across Michigan and the rest of the country by city, with filters for meeting type, format, and language, including virtual meetings. Our website also covers detox, inpatient, and outpatient options.

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