LANSING, Mich., March 6, 2020 — State Rep. Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia) and an expert panel of special guests held a town hall in Livonia last evening to address the ongoing opioid crisis afflicting communities throughout Michigan. Pohutsky was joined by Livonia Chief of Police Curtis Caid, Lauren Rousseau from Northwest Wayne County Chapter of Families Against Narcotics, Michele Wagner from Mitchell’s Hope, and Patrick Stropes from Growth Works for the event.
“Over the last two decades, opioid abuse and misuse has torn apart families in every corner of our state, including right here in Livonia,” said Pohutsky. “While we work to bring this ugly chapter of our state’s story to a close, we need to do everything we can to support our friends, neighbors and loved ones find the road to recovery. Only then can we begin undoing the damage that has been done.”
Between 1999 and 2018, Michigan saw the number of overdose deaths due to opioid use increase over 1,800 percent. During the event, Pohutsky and the expert panel answered questions from attendees and provided updates on work being done at the state and local level to provide relief and assistance to those experiencing the effects of the crisis, as well as how to bring it to an end.
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