Published Jan. 29, 2026

Dearborn continues to see a sustained reduction in substance-use-related overdose cases for the second consecutive year, underscoring the effectiveness of local, data-driven public health interventions in addressing the ongoing opioid epidemic.

New local data show a 36% decline in total overdoses in 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Overdose deaths also declined 38% year over year. Taken together, the results mark continued progress following a major reduction reported last year. 

Over a two-year period, from 2023 to 2025, Dearborn experienced an overall decline of 58% in overdose incidents and a 64% reduction in overdose deaths, reflecting the cumulative impact of sustained, community-based public health action.

The Dearborn Department of Public Health (DPH), launched in April 2022, has made overdose prevention and substance-use response a core priority since its inception, focusing on harm reduction, access to lifesaving tools, and coordinated response across city departments and community partners. DPH reported a similar drop in 2024.

Dearborn’s Chief Public Health Officer, Ali Abazeed, stated, “People are alive today because the City of Dearborn decided to show up differently. We put tools into the community, followed the stories and the data, and treated our neighbors with care, not judgment. This progress belongs to the people of Dearborn, and it’s a reminder that when we invest in one another, lives are saved.”

Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin added, “These reductions reflect strong collaboration between public health and first responders. By focusing on prevention and access to lifesaving resources, we are protecting lives and strengthening our community.”

DPH implemented key opioid and substance-use interventions citywide beginning in 2022. These efforts include widespread distribution of harm-reduction supplies such as Narcan (naloxone), Fentanyl test strips, and Xylazine (tranq) test strips, aimed at reducing overdose risk while also normalizing and destigmatizing access to lifesaving tools.

In 2025, DPH distributed 324 Fentanyl test strip kits, 249 Xylazine test strip kits, and more than 7000 units of Narcan through public distribution sites and community events across the city.

DPH provides free Narcan at the following locations:

• John D. Dingell Transit Center
• East Parking Deck at West Village Drive
• Wagner Parking Deck on Monroe St (test strips also available at this location)
• Islamic Center of Detroit

In addition to direct distribution, DPH monitors and analyzes overdose data to continuously refine its public health strategy. In 2025, data showed that approximately 67% of overdoses occurred among men, while 33% occurred among women, helping guide targeted outreach and prevention efforts.

Broader efforts by DPH include community conversations and partnerships, and multilingual resources, around harmful substance use and overdose prevention.

City leaders emphasize that while the sustained decline in overdoses is encouraging, continued investment and vigilance remain critical.

More information about overdose prevention efforts, including how to access free Narcan and harm-reduction supplies, is available at Dearborn.gov/PublicHealth.

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