by Scott McClallen, The Center Square | April 16, 2021 07:00 PM Print this article Michigan is reporting its second consecutive year of decreasing drug overdose deaths overall. That's the good news. However, there is at least a 16% increase in overdose deaths from January through June of 2020 compared to that time in 2019, preliminary data says. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced Thursday that out of 2,354 overdose deaths in 2019, 75%, or 1,768 were opioid-related. Overall overdose deaths declined in 2019 by 9.4% from the 2,599 in 2018 – below 2016 numbers. Opioid-related overdose deaths decreased in 2019 by 13.2% from 2018’s total of 2,036. However, preliminary data from January through June of 2020 show 1,340 overdose deaths – a 185 death, or 16% increase from that period in 2019. Similarly, opioid-related overdose deaths in 2020 increased by 171, or 20% ti 1,045 from the 2019 time period. The 2020 deaths are likely underreported due to incomplete data.