The heroin epidemic is affecting every part of the country, with use increasing among men and women of all ages.
People who are addicted to prescription opioid painkillers are most at-risk of becoming addicted.
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The number of heroin-related overdose deaths has increased 286 percent nationwide according to the Centers for Disease Control.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, more than 12 million reported using prescription painkillers non-medically in 2010. These painkillers are opiate-based just like heroin.
READ: Real addiction stories
Local 4 is focused on the Faces of Addiction and helping educate the community about this epidemic. Good Health’s Dr. McGeorge, Local 4 Defender Kevin Dietz, Help Me Hank’s Hank Winchester and Sandra Ali are teaming up for day-long coverage on the drug problem.
During Local 4 News at 4 p.m. you’ll hear about Hope Not Handcuffs, a new plan to get addicts help no questions asked, at 5 p.m. a warning from one family on why you shouldn’t think this epidemic is someone else’s problem.
Then at 5:30 p.m. why you should make cleaning out your medicine cabinet a priority.
And at 6 p.m. the images are shocking, parents and grandparents overdosing on drugs with their children in tow. We look at whether releasing these pictures is helping or hurting.
Watch ClickOnDetroit.com or Facebook at 12:30 p.m. as a panel of experts tackles the prescription pain pill and heroin problem.
Speakers include Local 4 Defender Kevin Dietz, ER doctor and Good Health Dr. Frank McGeorge, Katie Donovan, executive vice president of Families Against Narcotics and mother of a heroin addict and Dr. Anthony J. Colucci, on the FAN Advisory Board and Team Physician for the Detroit Red Wings.
Share your addiction story (click here)
You can watch all of the reports as they run here.
WATCH PREVIOUS REPORTS HERE:
Brittany seems to have had everything as a child. She had a good family, she was a good student and she enjoyed sports. But then, she tried heroin.
Watch: Former heroin addict remembers living in abandoned Detroit home
The abuse of opioid prescription pills often leads to the use of heroin, which is why experts warn people to get rid of their unused prescriptions.
Story: Clear medicine cabinet of old prescription drugs
Families Against Narcotics is teaming up with different agencies in Macomb County to offer a new way for addicts to get help.
Story: FAN offering 'Hope, not handcuffs' to people struggling with addiction
The parents of a woman who died serving a 30-day sentence in the Macomb County Jail warned others about the dangers of drug addiction.
Story: Parents of woman who died in Macomb County Jail warn of drug addiction
Pictures and video released on social media raised the issue of drug abuse, but do they help or hurt the efforts for real change?
Story: Viral images show parents struggling with addiction
PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE:
Wednesday night on Local 4 News at 11:
Thursday:
Local 4 News at 6 a.m.:
Local 4 News at Noon
- Re-run of the morning story in case you missed it
- 12:30 p.m.: ClickOnDetroit.com/Facebook Live panel discussion with Dr. McGeorge, Kevin Dietz and Katie Donovan, executive vice president of Families Against Narcotics and mother of a recovering heroin addict, and Dr. Anthony J. Colucci, who is on the FAN Advisory Board and Team Physician for the Detroit Red Wings
Local 4 First at 4 p.m.:
Local 4 News at 5 p.m.:
Local 4 News at 5:30 p.m.:
Local 4 News at 6 p.m.: