Purer meth, less pure opioids, more cocaine hit Michigan, testing reveals

Maxwell Howard, Interlochen Public Radio — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 21:50:40 +0000

A Harm Reduction MI lab technician shows the amount necessary for testing drugs on the agency’s FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) machine. (Maxwell Howard/Interlochen Public Radio)

" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/bridgemi.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/HRMI-1-from-IPR.jpg?fit=300%2C169&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/bridgemi.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/HRMI-1-from-IPR.jpg?fit=780%2C439&ssl=1" />State drug lab results show methamphetamine users now get their stuff from Mexican cartels, not homemade labs. Meanwhile, opioids are being cut with sedatives that make overdose treatments ineffective.

Traverse City’s homeless crackdown lays bare northern Michigan housing crisis

Maxwell Howard, Interlochen Public Radio — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 21:20:24 +0000

A day before the city cleared “The Pines” encampment on May 6, a resident showed off makeshift wagons used to carry belongings. With no central location to access resources, transportation has become an even greater challenge for Traverse City’s homeless residents. (Photo courtesy of Interlochen Public Radio)

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The city banned outdoor camping and broke up a longstanding encampment. Officials have pledged help to the displaced, but there’s only so many places to go in a region that has battled affordability for years.

Maxwell Howard, Interlochen Public Radio, Author at Bridge Michigan

Purer meth, less pure opioids, more cocaine hit Michigan, testing reveals

Traverse City’s homeless crackdown lays bare northern Michigan housing crisis