The Lansing State Journal reports that there were 28 fatal heroin overdoses in Lansing last year and over 160 non-fatal ODs. That was a record. Police are expecting similar numbers for this year, according to the Lansing Police Chief. So far this calendar year, there have been eight fatal overdoses in our city.

They say the average age of fatalities related to heroin here is 41 years old, though there have been victims ranging in age from 15 to 67. Prescription drug abuse, most often the gateway to opioid addiction, remains an epidemic in our fair city. "Hey Doctors, please keep writing opioid prespcriptions for hang nails – it’s going really well so far – please never suggest non-addictive pain management alternatives like chiropractic care, acupuncture, acupressure, massage, yoga or meditation…"

One gentlemen who comes to a yoga class with me gave me permission to tell his story of the pain meds he was on last year that literally gave him suicidal thoughts, while also tearing up his digestive system. Finally a friend told him he had to get off the those meds. He listened, but not everyone does. Since the start of the year, he’s been doing yoga at home everyday and coming to class once a week and feels so much better. He’d suffered from chronic low back pain for years and has gotten so much relief from taking a different approach.

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