Message from the Sheriff’s Office:

Southeastern Michigan has seen an increase in fentanyl related overdose deaths, but Washtenaw County has seen a significant spike. Over the last five months, Washtenaw County has had 23 heroin related overdose deaths, seven of those included fentanyl. In 2015, two overdose deaths occurred when people injected pure fentanyl believing it was heroin.

The increase in drug-related deaths prompted Washtenaw medical examiner Jeffrey Jentzen, M.D., Ph.D. to issue a statement earlier this week through the University of Michigan Health System.

“We are increasingly seeing signs of what appears to be a return to the epidemic levels of ten years ago, when fentanyl-related drug overdoses were blamed for 236 excess drug deaths,” says Jentzen. “This combination kills even experienced drug users, who likely do not know that they’re consuming a drug that’s 15 to 20 times more potent than heroin, and 80 to 100 times more potent than morphine.”

Understanding this alarming trend the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to be aware of the dangers of abusing both illegal drugs and prescription medications.

“Heroin abuse continues to present significant challenges to Washtenaw County and our entire region,” says Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton. “No area of our county has proven to be immune. The impact transcends the abuser and their family. All of us are eventually affected. Successfully overcoming this challenge requires all of us to pull together with a focus on immediate and long-term solutions. A sustainable solution will require a collaborative community-based, multi-faceted, long-term strategy.”

Prior to the recent spike in deaths, increases in drug-related deaths and drug-related emergency room admissions were on the rise. The following chart from Washtenaw County Public Health and the Medical Examiner’s Office shows this increase in drug-related deaths since 2012.

In addition, Washtenaw County Public Health reviews emergency room admissions from local hospitals attributed to intentional and unintentional opioid- related overdoses. Data from April 2011 through June 2014 shows that individuals admitted for unintentional heroin overdoses tend to be younger and male; average age 32 years and 87% white. Admissions for unintentional prescription opioid overdoses were somewhat more likely to be female and older; average age 51 years and 81% white. Approximately half of the overdose admissions during this time period were for abuse of prescription opioids, including methadone.

Signs of potential heroin abuse:

• Paraphernalia used to prepare, inject or consume heroin (including: Needles or syringes not used for other medical purposes, Burned silver spoons, Aluminum foil or gum wrappers with burn marks, Belts or shoe strings fashioned as a tourniquet, Small plastic bags with a white powdery residue, Water pipes or other pipe, Laxatives – opiates tend to constipate)
• Sudden changes in behavior or actions
• Disorientation
• Cycles of hyper alertness and then suddenly nodding off
• Lethargic or droopy appearance
• Needle or “poke” marks on arms or other parts of the body

If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction or if you have questions regarding addiction, Washtenaw County is fortunate to have two very good resources: Dawn Farm – 734-669-8265 and Home of New Vision – 734-975-1602.

For more information contact WCSO Director, Derrick Jackson at 734-973-4503 or jacksond@ewashtenaw.org or Washtenaw Public Health Communications Manager, Susan Ringler-Cerniglia at 734-544-6759 or ringlers@ewashtenaw.org.