Intoxication due to a defendant’s voluntary consumption of drugs or alcohol isn’t usually a defense to criminal charges—but if the intoxication was involuntary, it may be a defense on the basis that the defendant did not understand what he was doing or that what he was doing was wrong. And some states allow a defendant to assert a defense that his voluntary intoxication prevented him from forming the specific intent to commit the crime (attempted murder, for example). But this is a question of fact that the jury will usually determine.

The availability and definition of any defense to criminal charges based on the defendant’s voluntary or involuntary intoxication is usually located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code.

In Michigan, voluntary intoxication is generally not a defense to criminal charges. The rationale is that individuals are responsible for their actions, even when under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, there are exceptions where voluntary intoxication may be considered by the court, particularly in cases where specific intent is an element of the crime. For example, if a defendant is charged with a crime that requires the prosecution to prove the defendant had a specific intent to commit the crime, such as attempted murder, the defendant may argue that due to intoxication, they were incapable of forming that specific intent. This does not absolve the defendant of all responsibility but may impact the level of the charge or the severity of the punishment. Involuntary intoxication, on the other hand, can be a defense if the defendant can show that they were intoxicated without their knowledge or against their will, and as a result, they did not understand the nature of their actions or that their actions were wrong. The success of such a defense typically depends on the specific circumstances of the case and is a question of fact for the jury to determine. The relevant statutes and case law in Michigan would provide the specific legal framework for these defenses.