LANSING, MI — Ingham County recorded 43 drug-related deaths during the first six months of 2026, according to quarterly figures released by the UM Health-Sparrow Department of Forensic Pathology and Office of the Medical Examine
The county recorded 20 deaths from January through March and 23 from April through June. Of the first-quarter deaths, 19 were classified as accidental and one as indeterminate.
Ingham County’s second-quarter total was the highest among the seven counties covered by the report: Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Livingston and Shiawassee.
The seven counties recorded a combined 38 drug-related deaths during the second quarter. Eaton County reported six, Livingston County reported five and Isabella County reported four. Clinton, Ionia and Shiawassee counties recorded none during that period.
“Most of the drug deaths we see involve multiple substances, not just one,” said Michelle Fox, D-ABMDI, supervisor of Forensic Pathology and Office of Decedent Affairs and chief investigator for the Office of the Medical Examiner.
“Our investigators work carefully to determine which substances actually caused or contributed to each death, so the data we publish reflects what is truly driving these tragedies in our communities,” Fox said.
The first-quarter report defines drug-related deaths as those resulting entirely or partly from acute drug toxicity. This includes deaths involving a combination of natural disease and acute intoxication. The report also cautions that statistics may change if new information leads to revised findings.
“These numbers represent real people and real families,” Fox said. “We publish this report not just to track trends, but to give our community and our partners the information they need to respond.”
The quarterly reports are available on the UM Health-Sparrow Office of the Medical Examiner’s statistical reports webpage.
Where to get help
Residents of Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties seeking help with alcohol or drug use can contact the Community Mental Health Authority’s Access Center at 517-346-8318 or 888-800-1559 for screening and assistance connecting with treatment.
Individuals and families can also call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357) for free, confidential treatment referrals, available 24 hours a day in English and Spanish. Treatment providers can also be found at FindTreatment.gov.
For a suspected overdose or another life-threatening emergency, call 911.
