(LANSING) - New crime lab testing shows major changes in Michigan's illegal drug market, with highly pure methamphetamine now dominating many areas, cocaine use rising sharply, and fentanyl increasingly mixed with dangerous additives.
Bridge Michigan reports that locally produced meth has largely vanished over the past five years, replaced by potent crystal meth trafficked by Mexican cartels. In parts of northern Michigan, meth accounts for 60% to more than 80% of substances analyzed, and officials warn the newer supply is far stronger than older homemade versions.
Cocaine is also surging statewide, with lab samples rising from 15% to 28% in just three years, reflecting increased global production.
Opioids remain widespread but are often contaminated with other drugs. About one in five fentanyl samples contained xylazine, a veterinary sedative that cannot be reversed with naloxone. Another animal tranquilizer, medetomidine, has also appeared in the drug supply and has been linked to overdose cases. Harm-reduction groups say street testing frequently finds additional substances such as caffeine and lidocaine mixed in.
Officials say tracking these changes helps public health agencies respond to emerging threats. Drug use across Michigan remains elevated even as overdose deaths have declined from a peak in 2021, and experts warn the shifting supply can quickly change the risks users face.