Livingston County Overdose Linked to New Drug

The Livingston County Sheriff Department is warning against abuse of the prescription drug Opana (also known as oxymorphone or 'roxy') 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 most recent 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."

'Roxy' Warning Signs

Local parents and educators, including a representative from the Hartland School District, were warned about Opana and oxymorphone during "Drugs in Livingston County" at the on Monday. Presented by Project Opiate, the 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 'roxy' — 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.

Scott VanEpps, Hartland's assistant superintendent of personnel and student services, said the drug will become another in a list of prescription drugs the district will seek to educate about the dangers. It also isn't the only new problem, adding there have been concerns raised about certain types of bath salts being snorted and ingested.

"We've worked to educate our parents and students," he said. "Sadly, there seems to be something new at every turn."

Drug tragedies, prevention in Fenton

The recent apparent overdose deaths in the Fenton area led officials to form a committee to help combat the problem. The committee will include officials, Lake Fenton Community Schools 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.