COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A rash of heroin overdoses in Branch County, especially last year, as well more recently, heroin deaths in Calhoun County and Kalamazoo County, may be due to drug dealers cutting their illicit drug with the prescription drug Fentanyl. That drug is more potent, making the combined drug more dangerous and oddly more attractive to addicts, who consider it a good match.
Mindie Smith with Southwest Michigan Behavioral Health says it can kill you if you don’t know what is in it. She says they have mobilized to address all opioid addictions, stressing help and treatment are available.
Smith says Kalamazoo had 31 fatal overdoses in 2014, even more last year and most weren’t caused by illegal heroin, but by abuse of prescription drugs.


