Flashpoint: Examining problems with heroin, SE Michigan transportation

DETROIT – Flashpoint returned Sunday after taking a week off for the French Open tennis final. This week's show began with a discussion about an increasing heroin problem in today's society.

Devin Scillian said that, despite heroin's deadly reputation, it's starting to show up more and more in our society. And many think the problem stems from prescription drugs.

Rusty Young, Editor in Chief of Hell Yeah Detroit, pointed out that the United States is one of only two countries that allows advertising for prescription narcotics. He said direct to consumer marketing is only allowed in the U.S. and New Zealand.

Jeannine Richards, President and founder of Bryan's Hope, believes that a prescription for Vicodin led to the physical addiction that eventually killed the man who inspired her organization.

"Heroin is as easy to get as Domino's Pizza in our neighborhood," Richards said. "And that's what he turned to. Within two years of turning to heroin, he died."

April Demers, from the Monroe County Substance Abuse Coalition, said she believes many addictions begin with prescription pain medication. She said the community, state and national governments have made this a priority and are working to fix it.

Local 4's Dr. Frank McGeorge talked about the growing epidemic and patients who specifically ask for drugs. He said that while doctors don't want to undertreat pain, they have to find a safe middle ground.

You can watch the full first segment in the video posted above.

The conversation continued in the second segment. McGeorge talked about how doctors can stop the increase of heroin abuse, which starts with looking into patients' pasts to look for warning signs. He said doctors need ways to explain to patients how to cope with what may develop into an addition that started very innocently.

He said prices of drugs on the streets are becoming very expensive, which points many people toward heroin.

Richards said one injection is enough to get people hooked on the drug, as they realize it's a substitute for drugs they can no longer afford.

"Heroin has been in Detroit, in Michigan forever, actually," McGeorge said.

Click on the video below to watch the entire second segment.

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In the third segment, the discussion turned to transportation in metro Detroit and the lack of a true regional transportation system.

Michael Ford, CEO of the Regional Transit Authority of SE Michigan, joined Devin to talk about the issue. He said the first step to solving metro Detroit's transportation woes is to come up with a plan.

Ford said people see the value of transportation and that fixing the problem in southeast Michigan is a priority. He said people are suffering right now because there aren't strong transportation options.

Devin asked Ford about the M-1 rail, which is considered by many to be more of an attraction than an improvement to transportation. Ford said the M-1 rail will be a catalyst for changing the mentality and the psyche of people surrounding the problem.

The conversation with Ford is posted in the video below.

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