The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announces that Michigan’s overdose death rate has declined by 47% since 2021.
Preliminary data for 2025 is projecting a lower rate of 16.4 deaths per 100,000 residents compared to a rate of 30.8 in 2021.
This suggests overdose deaths have continued to decline for the fourth year in a row. In 2021, there were 3,096 overdose deaths compared to fewer than 1,800 deaths projected for 2025.
“MDHHS remains committed to continuing programs and partnerships that help reduce overdose deaths, expand treatment options and support long-term recovery,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “This decrease represents real progress and reflects the impact of sustained, data-driven investments of opioid settlement dollars across Michigan.”
This progress reflects Michigan’s continued statewide strategy and efforts to address substance use disorder through the pillars of prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery services.
In 2019, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer established the Michigan Opioids Task Force to create a coordinated approach to reduce overdose deaths. The state’s response focuses on those four main pillars ensuring programs are aligned toward one goal – saving lives.
“Michigan’s progress did not happen by accident,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive and chair of the Michigan Opioids Task Force. “It is the result of years of work to expand naloxone access, strengthen harm reduction services, improve real-time data, remove barriers to treatment and support people throughout recovery. These are not just statistics. These are parents, children, siblings, friends and neighbors who are alive today because life-saving tools and
services were available when they were needed.”
While the overall overdose death rate has declined significantly, MDHHS continues to focus on addressing persistent racial and geographic disparities in both overdose deaths and access to care. Urban counties and regions continue to experience disproportionately higher overdose rates than the rest of the state – 24% higher than the total state rate in 2024 – and Black overdose death rates are more than twice that of all other residents. The Michigan Opioids Task Force will continue to use data, community partnerships and targeted investments to better understand where disparities remain and strengthen services in communities most affected.
“While this decline is encouraging, our work is not done,” said Hertel. “Substance use disorder continues to affect families and communities across Michigan. MDHHS will work with providers, local partners, community organizations and people with lived experience to build on this progress and ensure residents can access the services and support they need.”
Preliminary data for 2025 is projecting a lower rate of 16.4 deaths per 100,000 residents compared to a rate of 30.8 in 2021.
This suggests overdose deaths have continued to decline for the fourth year in a row. In 2021, there were 3,096 overdose deaths compared to fewer than 1,800 deaths projected for 2025.
“MDHHS remains committed to continuing programs and partnerships that help reduce overdose deaths, expand treatment options and support long-term recovery,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “This decrease represents real progress and reflects the impact of sustained, data-driven investments of opioid settlement dollars across Michigan.”
This progress reflects Michigan’s continued statewide strategy and efforts to address substance use disorder through the pillars of prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery services.
In 2019, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer established the Michigan Opioids Task Force to create a coordinated approach to reduce overdose deaths. The state’s response focuses on those four main pillars ensuring programs are aligned toward one goal – saving lives.
“Michigan’s progress did not happen by accident,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive and chair of the Michigan Opioids Task Force. “It is the result of years of work to expand naloxone access, strengthen harm reduction services, improve real-time data, remove barriers to treatment and support people throughout recovery. These are not just statistics. These are parents, children, siblings, friends and neighbors who are alive today because life-saving tools and
services were available when they were needed.”
While the overall overdose death rate has declined significantly, MDHHS continues to focus on addressing persistent racial and geographic disparities in both overdose deaths and access to care. Urban counties and regions continue to experience disproportionately higher overdose rates than the rest of the state – 24% higher than the total state rate in 2024 – and Black overdose death rates are more than twice that of all other residents. The Michigan Opioids Task Force will continue to use data, community partnerships and targeted investments to better understand where disparities remain and strengthen services in communities most affected.
“While this decline is encouraging, our work is not done,” said Hertel. “Substance use disorder continues to affect families and communities across Michigan. MDHHS will work with providers, local partners, community organizations and people with lived experience to build on this progress and ensure residents can access the services and support they need.”
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