Drug Use in Michigan: A Grand Rapids Perspective

Drug use in Michigan, including in Grand Rapids and Kent County, affects only a minority of residents when you exclude cannabis. However, the harms linked to illicit drug misuse can be severe and long‑lasting for individuals, families, and neighborhoods.

In Grand Rapids, major health systems like Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, and Mercy Health regularly treat patients for substance use disorders, overdose, and related health complications.

The Impact of Illicit Drug Use in Grand Rapids and Michigan

While most people in Michigan do not regularly use illegal drugs, misuse can lead to:

  • Overdose and death
  • Involvement in crime and the justice system
  • Family and community stress
  • Transmission of blood-borne infections, including:
    • HIV/AIDS
    • Hepatitis C (HCV)
    • Hepatitis B

Cold Michigan winters and economic stressors in West Michigan can also worsen mental health and substance use patterns, increasing the risk of overdose, especially with opioids and fentanyl.

Cannabis Use in Michigan and Grand Rapids

Cannabis (marijuana) is the most commonly used illicit—or now, in many cases, legal recreational and medical—drug in Michigan. It is also known as:

  • Marijuana
  • Weed
  • Pot
  • Grass
  • Hash

Although cannabis-related deaths are far lower than those linked to alcohol and tobacco, cannabis use can still contribute to:

  • Impaired driving (a concern on Grand Rapids roads and winter highways)
  • Mental health issues in vulnerable individuals
  • Dependence and withdrawal in some users

From a years of life lost perspective, overdose and long-term health complications from illicit drugs (especially opioids, heroin, and methamphetamine) can have a much more significant impact than the raw death counts suggest.

Drug Use Among Youth in Michigan

Statewide surveys of Michigan middle and high school students (grades 7–12) have consistently found that:

  • Cannabis is the most commonly used illegal substance among secondary school students.
  • Among 12–17-year-olds (historic survey data):
    • About 14% reported using cannabis at least once in their lifetime.
    • 12% used cannabis in the past year.
    • 7% used cannabis in the past month.
    • 4% used cannabis in the past week.

Over time, Michigan has seen a decline in youth illicit drug use:

  • Between 1996 and 2011, lifetime use of at least one illegal drug:
    • Dropped from 27% to 9% among 12–15-year-olds.
    • Dropped from 48% to 23% among 16–17-year-olds.
  • Recent (past-month) drug use also decreased compared with earlier survey years.

In Grand Rapids, these statewide trends are reflected in local school districts, where prevention programs, school counselors, and community organizations work to reduce youth substance use and improve mental health support.

Across the United States, cannabis remains the most commonly used illicit drug:

  • In 2010, about 35.4% of people aged 14+ had used cannabis at least once.
  • Recent cannabis use is highest among people aged 18–29.
  • Men are more likely than women to report using illicit drugs.

Other national patterns that also influence Michigan and Grand Rapids include:

  • Ecstasy (MDMA) was the second most commonly used illicit drug, with about 3% of people 14+ reporting use in the past 12 months.
  • In 2007, 1.4% of Americans 14+ had used heroin in their lifetime, and about 37,000 reported use in the past year.
  • In 2010, fewer than 400,000 people 14+ reported using methamphetamines (such as “speed” and ��ice”) in the previous 12 months.

Young adults 20–29 years old are the most likely to have recently used an illegal drug. In Grand Rapids, this age group includes many college students and young professionals, making campus health services and workplace wellness programs critical for prevention and early intervention.

Michigan’s Drug Market: Price, Purity, and Availability

Understanding the drug market—including price, purity, and availability—helps public health officials and law enforcement in Michigan and Kent County track trends and respond effectively.

Historical data from Michigan’s Illicit Drug Reporting System show:

Heroin in Michigan

  • Price per gram:
    • 1997: about $450
    • 2000: decreased to $300
    • 2001: increased again to $450
    • 2012: decreased back to about $300
  • Purity of heroin seized:
    • 1996–97: about 35%
    • 1997–98: increased to 62%
    • 2001: decreased to 46%
    • 2012: median purity dropped sharply to 14%

Methamphetamine in Michigan

  • In 2012:
    • Median price of methamphetamine: about $200 per gram
    • Price of crystal methamphetamine powder: about $500 per gram

In Grand Rapids and West Michigan, fluctuations in heroin and methamphetamine price and purity affect overdose risk. Lower purity sometimes leads people to use more, while sudden spikes in purity or fentanyl contamination can dramatically increase overdose deaths.

Michigan saw a marked decrease in heroin-related deaths in the early 2000s:

  • 2000: 331 heroin-related deaths
  • 2001: 50 heroin-related deaths

Numbers remained relatively low for some time after that period. However, in recent years, fentanyl and synthetic opioids have driven a new wave of overdoses in Michigan, including in Kent County and the Grand Rapids metro area.

Local hospitals such as Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital and Trinity Health Grand Rapids frequently treat opioid overdoses and provide access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs.

Blood-Borne Viruses and Injecting Drug Use in Michigan

Injecting drug use is a major risk factor for hepatitis C and HIV in Michigan.

  • In 2009, the Michigan Department of Health received 187 notifications of newly acquired hepatitis C infections:
    • 147 cases (79%) reported injecting drug use as a risk factor.
  • In 2011, there were four new HIV cases in which injecting drug use was the only reported exposure risk.

In Grand Rapids, needle sharing and unsafe injection practices remain a concern. Harm reduction services, including syringe access programs, safer injection education, and testing for HIV and hepatitis C, are essential to protect public health.

Local Context: Grand Rapids, Weather, and Health

Grand Rapids’ location in West Michigan and its Great Lakes climate shape local health needs:

  • Cold winters and icy conditions can isolate people, worsen depression or anxiety, and increase substance misuse risk.
  • Economic changes in manufacturing, service industries, and healthcare can add stress that contributes to drug and alcohol use.
  • The Grand Rapids metro area population of 200,000+ includes diverse communities, each with specific needs related to language, culture, and access to care.

Local agencies like the Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health work with hospitals and community organizations to monitor drug use trends and provide prevention, treatment, and harm reduction services.

Where to Get Help for Drug Use in Grand Rapids, Michigan

If you or someone you care about in Grand Rapids is struggling with drug or alcohol use, help is available locally and confidentially.

Medical and Treatment Services

  • Your primary care doctor
    Can screen for substance use, provide brief counseling, prescribe medications for opioid or alcohol use disorder, and refer you to specialists.

  • Corewell Health (Spectrum Health) – Grand Rapids
    Offers addiction services, behavioral health, and inpatient/outpatient treatment.

  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    Provides mental health and substance use treatment, including hospital-based care.

  • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
    Offers behavioral health and integrated primary care support.

  • Mercy Health and affiliated clinics
    Provide counseling, primary care, and referrals for substance use treatment.

Local and State Resources

  • Kent County Health Department

    • Website: accesskent.com/Health
    • Offers information on substance use, harm reduction, HIV/HCV testing, and local programs.

  • Grand Rapids Public Health and community coalitions
    Partner with schools, churches, and nonprofits to provide education and prevention programs targeting youth and families.

  • Harm Reduction Michigan – Grand Rapids

    • Tel: (616) 555-0200
    • Provides harm reduction services such as safer use education, naloxone (Narcan) distribution, and support for people who use drugs.

  • Michigan statewide helplines

    • Michigan Opioid and Substance Use Disorder 24/7 Helpline
      For treatment referrals and crisis support (check current state number and availability).
    • SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
      Free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral and information.

Key Points to Remember

  • Most people in Michigan, including Grand Rapids, do not use illegal drugs, but the harms from misuse can be severe.
  • Cannabis is the most commonly used drug, especially among youth and young adults.
  • Heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other illicit drugs contribute to overdose, crime, and serious health problems in West Michigan.
  • Injecting drug use is a major driver of hepatitis C and some HIV infections.
  • Local help is available in Grand Rapids through hospitals, clinics, public health agencies, and harm reduction organizations.
  • Early support—for yourself, a friend, or a family member—can prevent long-term harm and save lives.

If you live in Grand Rapids or the surrounding West Michigan area and are concerned about drug use, reach out to a local healthcare provider, the Kent County Health Department, or a trusted treatment program to explore your options for support and recovery.