SCIT/Isabella County FAN Chapter send record numbers to their 6th annual conference
4/27/2017 1:00:00 PM - Court

FAN currently has 19 chapters throughout the State of Michigan with the Saginaw Chippewa/Isabella County chapter being the first native American influenced FAN chapter in the country.

SCIT/Isabella County FAN Chapter had the largest FAN delegation present and was led by FAN Board Secretary Rosanna Martin and treasurer Shawn Sawmick.

(Insert Rosanna and Shawn quotes here)

Katie Donovan, Fraser Chapter Executive Vice President, informs FAN meetings are a call to action to make a difference in our community because addiction is misunderstood and often accompanied with shame and guilt.

“When you attend a FAN meeting you are no longer alone, but among people who have or are experiencing similar problems,” Donovan said.  “Our meetings encourage you to talk about this disease in an enlightened, educated way and encourages you to help us in our community effort to raise awareness and erase the stigma of addiction.”

According to Center for Disease Control (CDC) statistics, overdose deaths associated with prescription and illicit opioids increased nationwide to 33, 091 in 2015 and that number marks an increase of over 5,000 from the previous year.  During that same period, fentanyl-related deaths are up 378 percent.

The CDC also reports prescription opioids overdose deaths have quadrupled since 1999 and heroin and opiate addiction is driving crime and violence in many communities across the country.

Michigan 41B Judicial District Court Judge Linda Davis from Macomb County chairs the Michigan Prescription Drug and Opioid Abuse Commission and provided an overview for FAN chapter members.

“I have always wanted to have Tribal participation in FAN because I think that leadership is needed in Michigan and Judge Shannon informed me of how the effort has been growing at an amazing pace.  We started the first FAN chapter in Fraser over ten years ago and were amazed to see the growth,” Judge Davis said.  “Pat Shannon is an incredible Judge and you have great leadership there and I commend your delegation for coming out in record numbers.”

Judge Davis asserts in her experience, coming off methodone is worse than coming off heroin.