Published: 09/3/2026 | Author: Quentin Blount

Opioid addiction remains the main cause of overdose deaths in Berrien County, Michigan. But the county’s numbers have moved substantially in the right direction. Health officials recorded 46 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2022. New data shows the figure is half that.

That decline matches statewide stats. The Wolverine State has an abundance of treatment programs from inpatient care to local Narcotics Anonymous chapters. Hannah Darr is the county’s health promotion and prevention supervisor and credited these programs for the drop in opioid-related overdose deaths across Michigan.

The Opioid Crisis in Michigan

Berrien County marked National Overdose Awareness Month in August. They had 23 fatalities, down from 46. This is a 50% cut for a county with only 153,000 people. But officials note they still have a long way to go.

Darr identified two factors behind the decline: increased access to treatment and increased access to Narcan.

That pairing reflects what public health researchers have generally found nationally as well. Naloxone distribution reduces deaths at the moment of overdose. Medication for opioid use disorder reduces the number of overdose events in the first place. Neither one alone produces the trend Berrien County is reporting.

Naloxone in Action

Andrea Loveless is a prevention specialist with the Berrien County Health Department. She says Narcan works on opioid and kratom overdoses. It doesn’t reverse overdoses involving stimulants such as methamphetamine or cocaine.

So if someone is unresponsive and you do not know what they took, administer naloxone and call 911 in that order. Getting it wrong costs nothing. Not acting can cost a life.

Kratom Draws County Attention

Beyond opioids, county officials flagged kratom as a substance under watch.

Loveless described kratom as a problem drug sold in gas stations and smoke shops with no age restriction on purchase in Michigan. Kratom’s active compounds act on opioid receptors and produce opioid-like effects at higher doses.

The Settlement Funds

Berrien County will receive $1.8 million from opioid settlements through 2040. Most of that will go to community and youth programs focused on prevention and awareness.

That’s the majority of the county’s total allocation. Officials say they need to extend care beyond overdose reversal.

Harm Reduction and Treatment

Berrien County held free drive-through Narcan training events throughout the year. Their Health Department maintains an online scheduling system for training throughout the year.

Counseling supplements harm reduction tools like naloxone and medications. Peer support like NA also opens the door to fellowship and camaraderie that carries many folks through their recovery.

NA Still a Top Option

Narcotics Anonymous hosts groups across southwest Michigan in Benton Harbor and Saint Joseph. Meeting formats include virtual options. They’re free and require no insurance, referral or ID.

NA also has chapters across the country. Our browsable directory features meetings by state and city with details on day, time, format, and meeting type. 

You can also dial 800-934-1582(Sponsored) , which is free, confidential and available 24 hours a day and connects callers to local resources.