Sparrow Forensic Pathology notes sharp rise in drug deaths

Sparrow Forensic Pathology Services issues Q3 report showing sharp rise in drug deaths in local counties

Published: Wednesday, December 30, 2020

LANSING, MI – Sparrow Forensic Pathology Services has released its Q3 report on drug-related deaths in the five counties in which Sparrow serves as Medical Examiner.

The report shows a 70 percent rise in drug-related deaths from July 1 to Sept. 30 of this year, with large jumps in mortality due to opioid and fentanyl use. 

The report provides detail on each drug death and the type of drug involved. The report, and other Forensic Pathology findings, can be found on our website. When you get to the page, click on “2020 Q3 Drug Report.

As the Office of the Medical Examiner for the five counties, Sparrow is nationally accredited by the National Association of Medical Examiners to perform autopsies, postmortem examinations, and on-scene forensic death investigations as an important part of the investigation process.

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Sparrow is Mid-Michigan’s premier health care organization that includes hospitals in Lansing, Charlotte, St. Johns, Ionia and Carson City as well as Physicians Health Plan, Sparrow Care Network, Sparrow Medical Group and the Michigan Athletic Club. Sparrow is affiliated with Michigan Medicine through the Sparrow Children’s Center and with Michigan State University’s three human health colleges. Through these partnerships and the dedication of our 10,000 Caregivers, Sparrow pursues a vision to be nationally recognized as a leader in quality and Patient experience. For more information, visit Sparrow.org.