Fenton Area Faces Third Apparent Drug Overdose Death

The Livingston County Sheriff Department is warning against abuse of the prescription drug Opana after the apparent overdose of a 22-year-old Tyrone Township man on Saturday.

Police say the man reportedly crushed up multiple Opana tablets and snorted them around 3:30 p.m. Friday. He was discovered unresponsive around 7:30 a.m. Saturday, according to a sheriff's department news release issued Tuesday. The department responded to the scene, and is still investigating the case pending autopsy and toxicology reports.

"If this information inspires parents to talk to their kids about the dangers of drugs, including prescription drugs, we may prevent future tragedies," said Sheriff Bob Bezotte in a statement to Patch.

This is the third apparent death by opiate overdose in the Fenton area.

Two teenagers from the Fenton area, Briona Jawhari, 17, of Fenton Township and her friend, Erika Schlosser, 19, of Fenton, died in February of apparent heroin overdose, police said.

The death is the first suspected overdose death related to Opana in Livingston County, police said. Opana, a brand name of the generic Oxymorphone, is an opiate.

According to the drug's manufacturer, Endo Pharmaceuticals, Opana "is indicated for the relief of moderate to severe pain in patients requiring continuous, around-the-clock opioid treatment for an extended period of time."

The website warns against abuse, specifically stating "tablets are to be swallowed whole and are not to be broken, chewed, dissolved, or crushed as this leads to rapid release and absorption of a potentially fatal dose of oxymorphone."

Drug tragedies, prevention in Fenton

The deaths led officials to form a committee to help combat the problem. The committee will include officials, s officials, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department and local state representatives.

The committee will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the

“It’s shocking to see what we are getting all of a sudden,” said Lake Fenton superintendent Wayne Wright.

“We have not seen that many deaths in the past, now to get three in this small area.”

The District Health Committee held a Awareness program on Feb. 8, which only a handful of parents attended.

There, Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell stated that prescription drugs have surpassed marijuana in popularity among teenagers. Pickell also said the abuse rate of prescription drugs in Genesee County (6.5 percent) is higher than the national average (4.9 percent).

On that same night, The Board of Education approved the formation of a task force to help stop the spread of prescription drug usage.

 'Roxi' Warning Signs

Local parents and educators were warned about Opana and oxymorphone during "Drugs in Livingston County" at the Brighton Center for Performing Arts on Monday. Presented by Project Opiate, the educational program focused on the rise of opiate addiction and the increase of overdoses and deaths in the county related to drug use.

Francine Sumner, spokesperson for Project Opiate and chief probation officer for Livingston County's 53rd District Court, said oxymorphone — also known as Roxi — is uncommon in Livingston County, but prescription drug use overall "is on the rise, more than we can imagine."

Sumner cautioned parents to watch for warning signs of opiate abuse including unusual behavior and irritability, along with runny nose, muscle aches and fever.

"If they're continually having flu-like symptoms, they're agitated, they don't want you in their business or knowing their friends, that's when you should start digging," Sumner said. "If you have any suspicions or gut feelings, usually you're right."

Sumner recommends anyone who needs help with addiction contact Brighton Hospital at 1-877-9-SOBER-1.