R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press Fred Calouette, who hadn’t intended to speak at the overdose awareness event this week, is the grandfather of Tobias Frederick, who passed away from a drug overdose just 15 days prior. Unfortunately, the loss of Tobi is one of many that has rocked the community in the last few years.

RAPID RIVER — Ten years ago, most of the drug busts in Delta County were for marijuana. The occasional gram of cocaine was an exciting rarity.

Five years ago, pills sold on the streets were what they were purported to be — Xanax, Percocet, Adderall.

Three years ago, Travis Hebert, Mason Kudlick-Johnson, Eric Mallard, Wyatt Smith and Tobi Frederick were still alive.

On Wednesday evening, over 100 community members braved a snowstorm to attend the first event of a newly-formed group, Overdose Awareness of Delta County, while more watched the live-streamed event from home. Parents whose children died by drug overdoses, aching to to prevent others from suffering the same fate, spoke to the crowd one by one, sharing their stories and pleading for a change in the culture surrounding drug use.

Dr. Mary Frances Myrick, who treats people recovering from drugs in her clinic, explained that fentanyl — an extremely potent opioid being illicitly manufactured in garages using chemicals — began finding its way into the drug flow in the Upper Peninsula, often laced into other substances.

Many overdoses are caused by people accidentally ingesting fentanyl or xylazine (a veterinary tranquilizer), both of which dealers sometimes use to cut other drugs. It makes the substance stronger, cheaply.

Not everyone who overdoses has an addiction or even uses drugs regularly. Death could befall a first-time user, an occasional partier, or someone in recovery.

Eric Mallard died while celebrating his 25th birthday.

“He was he was a drug user in the effect that he would like to party,” said his mother, Julie Mallard. “He liked to have a good time. He drank alcohol a lot. Honestly, I was a lot more worried about his alcohol consumption.”

Julie described Eric as a “giving, loving kid” who struggled with anxiety and depression but had been doing well for himself as of late, including succeeding at work with Ponsse.

Julie, Director of the United Way in Escanaba, is a very busy woman whose long professional to-do list fell by the wayside when her child was suddenly found dead. She said the board of directors told her to take as much time as she needed, and she took a few months to take care of the aftermath.

“You don’t think you’re going to have to clean out your son’s house when he only moved out a couple years before,” Julie said.

Mike and Roxann Hebert also had to experience something they hadn’t dreamed of when they stopped by their son’s house one chilly Sunday afternoon in March 2022. Mike said that the vision he saw on the kitchen floor that day is unfortunately one that remains in his mind when he thinks of his son, Travis.

“He had just laid down and went to sleep using his arm as a pillow. I instantly knew that he was gone because his face and arm were completely blue,” Mike said.

The Heberts owned the Rapid River Pub at the time, and said that the fantastic staff kept the place open while the family grieved and made arrangements.

Toxicology reports showed that fentanyl had killed Travis. The family and detectives tried to track down who might have sold him the drugs, but to no avail.

Though the effort to get drugs and dealers off the street can seem like an awful game of whack-a-mole — more keep showing up — local law enforcement continues to do what they can and say that tips from the community are essential.

Desperate to do something, the Heberts organized fundraisers, including Mohawk November at the pub. Mike said that they’ve raised over $25,000 for Face Addiction Now (FAN, formerly Families Against Narcotics) and other charities.

The new owner of the Rapid River Pub, Tom Szocinski, emceed the event at Masonville Township Hall on Wednesday. He was not the only one to identify that part of the danger is people not viewing drugs seriously.

“I’ve heard firsthand from some of these young kids — young adults — ‘it’s just cocaine,'” said Szocinski. “‘It’s just cocaine. It’s just a little crystal meth.'”

Becki Smith noted the same, and said that today’s casual culture around drugs is far different from the days when being a “pothead” or the “town drunk” was a bad thing.

Her son, Wyatt Smith, died less than two months ago.

Becki said that one thing she kept hearing after Wyatt’s lethal overdose was, “he was doing was so well.” The same was said about Tobi Frederick and Mason Kudlick-Johnson.

Valerie Gunderman, who survived three overdoses herself and has now been clean for three-and-a-half years, lost her boyfriend eight months ago to what he thought was Xanax. Choking through tears, she said that she had left town for a few days for her sister’s wedding while her boyfriend was staying at her apartment.

“I came home that Sunday to find him passed away, rotting in my bed. He had bought Xanax pills to relapse, but they weren’t Xanax. It was fentanyl.”

Gunderman explained that for people who do struggle with substance use disorder and addiction, the problems start long before they touch a drug — “it starts from hurt, pain, childhood, surroundings, traumas. It starts with the feelings of shame and guilt and sadness. It starts with low confidence, low education, unfortunate life experiences.”

For those who will are not ready to stop using drugs, there are resources for harm reduction. At the health department (2920 College Ave. in Escanaba and 909 10th Ave. in Menominee), clean needles, fentanyl test strips, narcan, xylazine test strips, sharps containers for used needles and more are supplied for free. People who collect them remain anonymous.

For those who are ready to quit, the Escanaba Public Safety’s Angel Program has been so successful that is has been mirrored throughout Michigan by the Sate Police. A person may walk into the Public Safety office at 1900 3rd Ave. N. in Esky or the State Police Post at 922 Lake Shore Drive in Gladstone, turn in their drugs and ask for help. Unless they have an outstanding warrant, they will be provided assistance to get them to a rehabilitation facility free of charge and with no legal repercussions.

A group that has helped Gunderman and others find community while recovering is Celebrate Recovery, which meets Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m. at New Life Church (2005 8th Ave. S.) in Escanaba.

To solve ongoing cases and to catch current drug dealers, the police and the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team (UPSET) asked for tips. People may call Delta County Central Dispatch at 906-786-5911.

For those who aren’t comfortable speaking with the cops, Jack Smith said that people can see him at his lumber yard (10293 S. Main St. in Rapid), and he’ll talk to the police while keeping the tipper’s identity confidential.

Delta County Prosecutor Lauren Wickman could not attend Wednesday’s session in person but sent a statement that was read aloud by Escanaba Public Safety Director John Gudwer.

Wickman wrote that she shares citizens’ “anger and fears relate to the dangers of fentanyl and other drugs” and is “a strong advocate for increasing the penalties associated with fentanyl.” However, she explained, the law places certain limitations on what can be done, and it can be difficult to prosecute when there is not evidence “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

The prosecutor’s office is not able to take tips directly; they must come as a report filed through law enforcement. Officers “require information and tips in order to continue to pursue cases. If information is known to you about these cases, directly or indirectly, please do not assume law enforcement or knows about it. Please speak up and tell the detectives involved,” Wickman wrote.

When asked why known drug dealers are sometimes allowed to be released and again roam the streets, Gudwer responded that the best way to change that would be to write to legislators.