Hundreds of people in the Gaylord community alone are using the deadly drug
GAYLORD, MI -- The heroin problem seems to be growing in Northern Michigan.
Since the beginning of March, Benzie County and Manistee County police say they have investigated four deaths related to the drug.
In Gaylord, investigators tell us a 29 year-old mother of two died from an apparent heroin overdose just two-weeks ago, making it five people who have died in the past 10 months.
Detective Sergeant Doug Kussrow has been an officer with the Gaylord Police Department for the past 21 years, and he says he’s never seen the heroin problem this bad.
“The increase of heroin has been epidemic almost," Kussrow said.
Heroin is cheap, easy to get, easy to inject and gaining in popularity among drug users.
“There are hundreds of people using it," he explained.
In the past two years, Gaylord police officers have seen more heroin on the streets, most of the stuff brought in from downstate.
"It’s out of control here in Gaylord to the point of we have a lot of young people here who are not being productive citizens," he said.
“All they have left now are memories and pictures," said Misty Heidman, who lost her husband last year to heroin.
Dave Heidman overdosed on heroin last October. The last picture of Dave was with his two daughters on Homecoming night, the same night he died.
"He tried many times to get clean, he knew he needed to get clean, and it's just hard because it's a disease, they need help," said Misty.
Misty's bank account is drained, several of the things they saved up for in their 10 years of marriage have been sold, and maybe most heartbreaking, his eight kids, are without a father.
“My kids and myself have been through hell," Misty explained. “The community needs to step up and say, "Hey, I’ve seen this!" Quit being silent."
A poem on her wall is from her husband before he died, and it says "All I can do is try," as he tried to kick an addiction that effects so many.
“Right down Main Street, it's everywhere, it's not just Gaylord, it's Northern Michigan, it's Michigan, it's every town," said Kussrow.
And a concern for police, and for Misty Heidman, more people will be dead if this drug is not contained soon.
Heidman fears the drug is making its way into the schools and she says she'll do everything to show this drug will kill.
First responders say they've saved at least a dozen overdose victims on the brink of death in the past year by showing up just in time.
More than a dozen arrests have been made by police who had heroin or dealt heroin around the community.
Straits Area Narcotics Enforcement Detective/Lieutenant Ken Mills says every arrest that is made will do its part in reducing the amount of this nasty drug on the streets.
To learn more about the effects of heroin, CLICK HERE.
