By Susan Bromley

Staff Writer

Brandon Twp

.-Kim Zernec has had to attend one too many funerals for people lost to heroin.

The tragedies have prompted her to take action and she is seeking others in the community who want to bring awareness on how to prevent and treat drug addiction.

“I think heroin affects everybody,” said Zernec, a township resident and St. Anne Church youth minister. “We know families struggling with relatives with addiction. Everyone is touched by this and we need to step up.”

Now, she and Karyn Milligan, St. Anne Christian Services coordinator, are hoping to organize a team of people to offer a workshop to the community. She is looking for people with workshop ideas or resources that can be shared. She invites those interested in helping to a planning meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, Sept. 19, at St. Anne Catholic Church, 825 S. Ortonville Road.

In a letter Zernec sent to area churches in Ortonville, Goodrich, Clarkston and Oxford last week, she wrote, “I know you have all read the papers and see the constant articles and obituaries surrounding those who have been caught up in the life of addiction. We need to get this ‘heroin epidemic’ under control in our neighborhoods. We are hoping to pool all of our resources to help with prevention, which would be our #1 focus. We need to educate people regarding the signs and symptoms of drug use. Then we need to equip families dealing with this addiction with resources to help them combat this epidemic.”

She also is looking for resources from the schools, the library, township, Brandon Groveland Youth Assistance and the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

Lt. Greg Glover, Brandon substation commander, is on board to help.

“Heroin is alive and rampant, it’s a major drug in the township,” said Glover. “I’m supportive of the workshop and anything for public awareness that will educate parents on what to look for— I will probably participate at the workshop. Heroin has just gone crazy. It’s always been prevalent, but it’s a lot cheaper right now.”

Many of the overdose deaths, he continued, result from the heroin being cut with other products including fetanyl, a slow-release drug, which is killing young people “at an alarming rate” including two in Independence Township recently, one of whom was a former Brandon student.

“We are trying to plan a 1-day workshop with various speakers,” said Zernec. “People who have been in the trenches, families who have been through it, so everyone knows there is something there for them. The workshop will be open to everyone. For the planning meeting, we are seeking parents, teachers, coaches, ministers, experts in mental wellness. My hope and prayer is the right people show up. We are trying to pull this together as a conduit because I see a need.”

Please contact Kim Zernec at 248-627-3965 Ext.132 if you are able to attend the planning meeting or with any ideas you would like to share for a future workshop if you are unable to attend.