Harper Woods sees spike in heroin overdoses

"Say no to drugs! Kick it! Kick it!"

Feeling fed up and shaken up Friday, Janis Jackson stood in a popular Harper Woods parking lot. It’s popular for those looking to score some heroin.

"All young people should hear this and see this! Stop doing heroin!"

Friday afternoon, Jackson says she was driving by the large lot on 8 Mile when she noticed a young man lying on the ground.

"You could see a gentleman was doing CPR on him. He was purple, blue."

Jackson - a medical assistant - pulled over to help. The young man didn’t have a pulse, but soon the color returned to his face as police and paramedics arrived. They gave the Chesterfield Township man Narcan and took him to the hospital.

"I just thank God we were at the right spot at the right time to save this young guy’s life. He's no more than 20 years old!"

"Someone's parents could've gotten a call that their son overdosed."

This same scene is the fourth here in the last 24 hours. Police say Wednesday, a 27-year-old Walled Lake man overdosed in his car. Syringes and heroin found inside. Hours later, a 19-year-old Saint Clair Shores woman was found on the bathroom floor of a McDonald's. Narcan saved her life as well.

Once that woman regained consciousness, Harper Woods Police say she told them she had another friend just outside in the parking lot.

That 18-year-old from Almont was also given Narcan and survived.  Just a night earlier police say two other people died from overdosing.

"It's destroying our youth and they don't know what they're doing -  going back and keep buying drugs, and  coming in this parking lot and doing it. They need to stop."
According to Families Against Narcotics - each day, about 2,000 teenagers abuse a prescription drug for the first time.

"Just one time - you’re hooked and you want more."

In the small city of Harper Woods: 45 overdoses and nine deaths this year. Police there are working with Detroit Police and the FBI to find where the heroin is coming from.

"One bad batch, one bad shot and it's going to take their life," said Chief Jim Burke, Harper Woods Police Department.

Police, remind everyone that there are resources, like Families Against Narcotics, Hope Not Handcuffs -- and simply, people to talk to.

"Get help,” said Jackson.  “Because if you don't get help you'll be on the ground like he was – dead and coming back to life. Sometimes you’re not going to be lucky."