Health Department: 5 Overdoses In 50 Hours In Lansing

It appears a hot batch of stimulants has contributed to the overdoses.

Photo from Ingham County Health Department website.

The Ingham County Health Department has released a heartbreaking report today that 5 individuals in Lansing overdosed between 3/1/2025 and 3/3/2025, with 4 of those overdoses being fatal. All 4 of the fatal overdoses happened in the northeast part in Lansing/Lansing Township. Furthermore, active stimulant users are reporting a nod effect after using, which appears to signal a bad batch of meth or cocaine is floating around, probably laced with fentanyl or xylazine. This has started to become more common across the US and Michigan. Here is the report from the Ingham County Health Department, and they are asking people to share this with others:

*This message has been approved by the Ingham County Medical Health Officer or her designee.*

This email is being sent to you through the Ingham Opioid Awareness & Prevention Initiative email roster.

Reports shared with Ingham County Health Department (ICHD) by Ingham County Sheriff Office, Lansing Fire Department, Lansing Police Department, and the Ingham County Medical Examiner Office over the past two days show five (5) overdoses between 3/1/25 and 3/3/25, of which four (4) were reported as overdose fatalities. All four of the reported overdose fatalities in the past 50 hours have occurred in the Northeast section of Lansing/Lansing Township, and two of the four fatality reports noted that smoking paraphernalia was found near the decedents. This number of overdose fatalities in a 50-hour period is greater than the number reported to ICHD in similar time frames (48-hour periods) over the past 2+ years.

Ingham County Rapid Response Partners have also shared that in recent weeks, some active drug users reported experiencing a “nod effect” when using stimulants (ie. meth, cocaine, crack) purchased in the area, indicating that that there may be fentanyl and/or xylazine present in stimulants being consumed in the area. Ingham County Rapid Response is a network of people working in health, harm reduction, crisis intervention, emergency response and overdose prevention that collaborate to provide rapid post overdose services and supports to individuals experiencing non-fatal overdoses, and to track and communicate data about potential overdose spikes and/or novel drug threats.

ICHD staff will continue receiving and confirming information from reporting agencies and provide updates as they become available.

At this time, ICHD asks that partner agencies share the information below and attached with clients so that individuals in the community are able to access life-saving resources, supplies and supports.

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Over the past 50 hours there has been an increase in suspected overdose fatalities in Ingham County, concentrated in the Northeast areas of Lansing and Lansing Township. There may be a connection between these deaths and the presence of sedatives and/or opioids in stimulants (such as meth, cocaine, crack, and other drugs that are frequently smoked).

Life-saving resources, supplies and supports and info are here for you and your loved ones. Testing your drugs, going slow, having someone on standby for emergency help, keeping Narcan ready, and using proper rescue breaths can all help you stay alive.

· Keep Narcan ready: get free Narcan at more than 20 different locations in Ingham County – map at http://inghamharmreduction.org/support

· Test drugs prior to use: get free Fentanyl and Xylazine test strips from Punks with Lunch at 1300 Eureka St, Lansing Michigan, 12pm-5pm, Monday through Friday. Call 419-405-1308 or email punkswithlunchlansing@gmail.com for more information.

· Go Slow, Stay Low & Never Use Alone: call Never Use Alone, the US National Overdose Prevention Line, available 24/7/365 at 877-696-1996 for confidential support from skilled and trained volunteers who stay on the line with you and will call for emergency medical services if you become unresponsive.

· In all cases of suspected overdose, administer Narcan and rescue breaths: to give rescue breaths to adults, make sure the person’s airway is clear; place one hand on the person’s chin, tilt the head back, and pinch the nose closed. Place your mouth over the person’s mouth to make a seal and give two slow breaths. Watch for the person’s chest (but not the stomach) to rise and follow up with one breath every 5 seconds.

· Connect with Peer Recovery Coaches for harm reduction help such as clean needles and pipes, test strips, Narcan, Medication Assisted Treatment/Recovery, medically assisted detox, building recovery supports and more at http://inghamharmreduction.org/support.