Lincoln Park reports 6 heroin overdoses per day, fights back with dramatic PSA

LINCOLN PARK, Mich. (WJBK) - The leading cause of accidental death in America isn't car crashes or guns - it's drug overdoses. Lincoln Park Firefighters have found a creative way to fight the epidemic.

Heroin is a real problem not only in Metro Detroit, but also the rest of the country. So Lincoln Park Fire Chief  Al Dyer put together a 13-minute, professionally produced, service announcement highlighting the real effects of the drug.

"It's prolific. It's everywhere and its everyday," Dyer said. "The more dramatic. The more attention-grabbing it may be. Unfortunately, this is not drama. This is what we see on a daily basis."

Dyer said that in the past week, they've had four fatal overdoses.

Lincoln Park is only about 6 square miles and has 40,000 residents, but the chief says they make up to 6 runs a day for heroin related calls.

That may have do with another recent trend: those using the drug have no idea how it was made or what else is in it.

"A veterinarian-level tranquilizer for horses and newest stuff that is coming out is a tranquilizer for elephants," Dyer said.

EMTs travel with NARCAN, a drug used to reverse an overdose. The problem is with the tranquilizers, it's harder and harder to keep a user alive.

"It's a huge problem out there and to use the word epidemic is appropriate," Dyer said.

Its not just Lincoln Park. The video has been shared by Roseville Police and other agencies around the metro area. It goes beyond awareness and offers ways to get real help with addiction.

Watch it for yourself here: