Battle Creek Overdose ‘Epidemic': Summit Pointe Sets March 1 Goal To Open Recovery Center

With what is now being called a heroin overdose epidemic in the Battle Creek area, Summit Pointe's rush to open a recovery center is progressing.

President and CEO Jeannie Goodrich told WBCK a target date of March 1, 2017 has been set to open the recovery center, which is expected to have an impact on available solutions to help attack the region's heroin problems.

Battle Creek Police Chief Jim Blocker told WBCK with only ten days into 2017, there have already 4 deaths and 7 overdoses in the greater Battle Creek area.

"We are a good representation of what pockets of communities across the country are facing," Blocker said.

Blocker cited year-to-date numbers, January 2016 to January 2017, in excess of 114 overdoses have happened in the greater Battle Creek area; 16 of those cases resulted in death.

Click the player below to hear more about Summit Pointe's timeline, how the new recovery center is expected to potentially quell the current statistics, and the role of heroin additives like carfentanil have played in overdose deaths.

Hear The Richard Piet Show weekday mornings from 5:30-9 on WBCK.