Michigan Sees Shift to Purer Meth, More Adulterated Opioids, and Rising Cocaine Use

State drug lab data shows changing drug landscape in the state, with Mexican cartel-supplied meth replacing homemade labs and opioids laced with sedatives that can render overdose treatments ineffective.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Homemade methamphetamine production in rural Michigan has ground to a halt in the past five years, replaced by purer forms of the drug supplied by Mexican drug cartels, according to data from state police crime labs. Meanwhile, opioids are becoming more adulterated, often with sedatives like xylazine and medetomidine that can make overdose treatments ineffective. Cocaine use is also on the rise in Michigan, mirroring global trends of increased production and supply.

Why it matters

The shifting drug landscape in Michigan has significant public health implications. Purer meth from cartels poses new risks, while the adulteration of opioids with sedatives can lead to more severe overdoses that are harder to treat. The rise in cocaine use also brings its own set of health and safety concerns. Understanding these trends is crucial for developing effective harm reduction and treatment strategies to address the ongoing drug crisis in the state.

The details

State police crime lab data shows that homemade meth production has stopped in rural parts of Michigan, replaced by purer forms of the drug supplied by Mexican cartels. Meanwhile, opioids are being increasingly cut with sedatives like xylazine and medetomidine, which can render overdose reversal medications ineffective. Cocaine use is also on the rise, with the number of tests run for the drug at state police labs nearly doubling in the last three years, mirroring global trends of increased cocaine production and supply.

  • In the last five years, homemade meth production in rural Michigan has ground to a halt.
  • In 2025, xylazine was found in 34% of fentanyl samples tested by Michigan State Police, though that percentage has since declined.
  • In 2024, three overdoses in Michigan were linked to the veterinary sedative medetomidine, which has been found in over 12% of fentanyl samples.

The players

Elaine Dougherty

Lab manager at the Michigan State Police Bridgeport crime lab.

Pamela Lynch

Director of Harm Reduction MI, a nonprofit that tests drugs on the street and provides harm reduction services.

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What they’re saying

“Now, we get the crystal meth from the drug cartels. It's not made from Sudafed anymore. It's not made in pop bottles anymore. It's literally made in factories in Mexico.”

— Elaine Dougherty, Lab manager, Michigan State Police Bridgeport crime lab (Michigan Bridge)

“A lot of times, people know there's a lot of stuff in there that doesn't belong in there.”

— Pamela Lynch, Director, Harm Reduction MI (Michigan Bridge)

What’s next

State and local officials are working to address the shifting drug landscape, including developing new harm reduction strategies and exploring ways to disrupt the supply of adulterated drugs.

The takeaway

The changing drug trends in Michigan, with purer meth from cartels, more adulterated opioids, and rising cocaine use, pose significant public health challenges. Addressing this crisis will require a multi-pronged approach focused on harm reduction, treatment, and disrupting the supply of dangerous, adulterated substances.