Rotarian and Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Bob Cooney led a presentation on the prescription drug (largely opioid) epidemic in the country. His guests were Ken & Ellen Kaufman, whose son Brian died of an accidental heroin overdose after first being exposed to opioids through a Vicodin prescription. Part of their goal in speaking was to raise awareness about the life-destroying power of opioids and the extent of the problem and to reverse the stigma associated with discussing the issue. 

 

Traverse City Police Detective Jennilyn Oster also spoke about the problem from a local perspective. She said 31 people have died in Grand Traverse County alone over the past three years. Cooney and Oster suggested the sheer prevalence of opioid drugs, stemming in part from their very frequent prescription by medical professionals, is contributing to the issue. As more people get addicted to a routine course of medication such as Vicodin or fentanyl, they gravitate to heroin or other illegal substances when they can no longer legally obtain their prescriptions. This, in turn, leads to increases in prostitution, theft and other crimes as people try to obtain money to support their drug habits.