LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan drug related deaths experienced an uptick into the fall months, according to the latest report from Sparrow Hospital. 

The Sparrow Department of Forensic Pathology released its Quarter 3 Report, which collected data from the summer to fall. 

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“The report shows an overall sharp rise in drug-related deaths in local counties from July 1 to Sept. 30, 2023, compared with the past two quarters,” according to Sparrow Officials. “The report provides detail on each drug death and the type of drug involved.” 

The breakdown by county.

Sixty drug related deaths across five mid-Michigan counties were recorded in the report including: Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Ionia, and Isabella. A further breakdown of the counties is provided below: 

  • Clinton County: Three drug-related deaths
  • Eaton County: Seven drug-related deaths
  • Ingham County: 39 drug-related deaths
  • Ionia County: One drug-related death
  • Isabella County: Seven drug-related deaths
  • Livingston County: Three drug-related deaths

In the Sparrow Office of the Medical Examiner 2022 report, Ingham County has experienced a general rise in the number of deaths since 2018.  There was a slight decrease from 138 drug related deaths in 2021 to 131 drug-related deaths last year. 

How do these stats compare to previous reports?

At the end of the latest report, a chart put the findings in perspective against past Q3 reports. It indicated this was the highest number of deaths for the past seven years, only in 2020 did the total number of deaths come close with 51 deaths. 

The Q4 report for 2022, published in March 2023, encompassed October 1 through December 31.

How does this compare with national trends?

Michigan’s rise in drug-related deaths seems consistent with national trends. In the fall, a study from Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine found that across the country, U.S. drug overdose deaths quadrupled from 1999 to 2020. 

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“Data from our research suggest that clinical and public health interventions should be targeted to populations and regions experiencing the most drug overdose deaths,” said Jennifer Caceres, M.D., senior author and senior associate dean for student affairs and admissions, FAU Schmidt College of Medicine. “Health care providers already have and will continue to play crucial roles in reducing preventable morbidity and mortality from drug overdoses.”

Researchers from FAU found drug overdose accounted for 1,013,852 deaths across the more than two decades.  Rates jumped 4.4 times from 6.9 per 100,000 in 1999 to 30 per 100,000 in 2020. 

For a full report of the Sparrow Q3 findings, see here.