ER doctors have seen heroin use rise

There's been a spike in possible heroin overdoses in Calhoun County since Jan. 28, and it has local health and law enforcement officials concerned.

But even before the overdoses of the last week, those on the front lines were seeing more heroin cases.

One of them is Bronson Battle Creek Director of Emergency Services Dr. Robert Prodinger.

"This comes from not only me working in the department, but also what I’m hearing from my colleagues," Prodinger said Thursday. "We’re actually seeing an increase here locally in Battle Creek. We’ve probably noticed it over the last six months to a year, an increase in just general heroin overdoses."

In Calhoun County, according to the county Public Health Department and Sheriff Department, there have been at least 15 suspected heroin overdoses, four of which were fatal, since Jan. 28.

Prodinger said when someone comes into the hospital, it's not always obvious what's happening. The person could be unconscious or unresponsive, and have been brought in by emergency medical services or a family member. When they're revived, it becomes easier.

Related: 

• Calhoun County reports 15th heroin overdose in a week
• Surge in B.C.-area heroin deaths reported
• Officials lack clear link to fentanyl in heroin deaths

"Usually we’ll take a history from the patient and they’ll say, 'Yeah, I used heroin,' and then we’ll know what it is," Prodinger said.

Another way doctors know they're dealing with an opiate overdose is when EMS reports that they used naloxone, also known under the brand name Narcan, to revive a patient.

"In toxicology, it’s one of the true antidotes that we have," Prodinger said.

Police officers and other emergency personnel can carry Narcan, and the Public Health Department plans to offer training and kits to the public at some point. That doesn't mean it's without its own problems.

"You’re reversing every opiate receptor in their body and these patients will go into acute withdrawal," Prodinger said. "Those patients can become nearly psychotic and combative, and experience absolutely horrible pain. It’s not just a simple benign drug that we give that makes everyone awake and now everything’s fine."

One way of fighting the current spike in drug use is faster reporting between agencies, some officials have said. At a news conference Wednesday, county Health Officer Jim Rutherford and Sheriff Matt Saxton talked about working with health care providers on some kind of notification system, without identifying the person getting care for an overdose, even though they said it's not likely it would be on an immediate basis.

It's an idea with potential.

"Anytime you can get real-time data, or as close to real-time data as possible, the more effective you can combat problems," Prodinger said.

Kristi Angelo knows the fight against heroin and drug overdoses is important. It's not just because she's a Michigan State Police trooper.

Angelo's son, Nicholas Grumeretz, died because of a prescription painkiller overdose when he was 30. Tuesday would have been his 33rd birthday, and it's also the day of the next meeting of the Calhoun County chapter of Families Against Narcotics.

Angelo helped start that chapter with Nancy King, another parent of someone who died from a drug overdose. And the current spike in possible heroin overdoses and fatalities doesn't surprise Angelo.

"It does not surprise me in the least," Angelo said Friday. "It’s an issue that’s national."

Heroin, like other painkillers or opiates, affects neurotransmitters in a way that creates a feeling of pleasure. That's why, experts say, those who are taking legally prescribed painkillers and become addicted to them might turn to heroin. That, and because heroin can be cheaper than pills on the street.

And, of course, the painkillers can be dangerous on their own.

"People are under the assumption that since it’s prescribed, they’re not dangerous," Angelo said.

One of the reasons she got involved in starting FAN was to work against the stigma that comes with drug use. Angelo described her son as a good father, a man who was into extreme sports and loved producing music. When she sees her grandson now, she sees her son.

At FAN meetings, families, concerned citizens, recovering addicts and others get together the first Tuesday of every month at Marshall's Crossroads Church and Ministries, 717 Old 27 North.

"I came forward because we can’t hide it," said Angelo, who works for the state police as a community service trooper. "There’s nothing to be ashamed of. The stigma needs to be removed."

The stigma that Angelo is working against, and fear of legal trouble, can be a hurdle for many. Prodinger, however, said he's been impressed with police when they come to his emergency department and sees them helping drug users.

"I’m their advocate," Prodinger said of the patients. "I’m here to take care of them. I’m not here to get them in trouble. None of us are. We want to know what happened."

Call Andy Fitzpatrick at 966-0697 or afitzpatrick@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @am_fitzpatrick

How to get help

For more on Families Against Narcotics meetings, contact Kristi Angelo at 209-8418 or go to www.familiesagainstnarcotics.org. The next meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Crossroads Church and Ministries, 717 Old 27 North, Marshall.