The Metro: Wayne County finally sees drop in overdose deaths, but new drugs spark concern
Overdose deaths in Wayne County decreased 42% in 2024, following a broader post-pandemic trend. A drug 100 times stronger than fentanyl threatens to disrupt that progress.
NARCAN nasal spray found in the Dearborn Public Health Narcan Station vending machine located in the lobby of the city's transit center on Nov. 16, 2022.
Overdose deaths in Michigan have been declining since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic brought on concerning increase in drug-related fatalities. But, Wayne County’s numbers stayed high until 2024 when it saw overdose deaths decrease by 42%.
Wayne County still leads the state in overdose deaths. Black Michiganders are disproportionately affected, with an overdose rate nearly double that of all other residents.
Accessibility to life-saving Naloxone (aka Narcan) and peer recovery coaches have been cited as a few reasons behind the decreases.
However, experts say keeping people from becoming addicted to opioids has gotten tougher.
Avani Sheth, the chief medical officer for Wayne County, says drugs like carfentanil pose a challenge for continued overdose prevention.
“The drug supply continues to change and evolve in increasingly dangerous ways.”
Carfentanil, used to tranquilize large animals like elephants, is 100 times stronger than fentanyl and even small amounts of the drug can be deadly.
Sheth spoke to The Metro’s Sam Corey about why certain communities experience more deaths, what helps patients navigate recovery, and how expanding resources can help local communities.
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