© 2024 WEMU
Serving Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County, MI
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Dingell Calls For Compassionate Solutions To Accessible Substance Abuse And Mental Health Services

On the heels of Monday night's community forum on opioid epidemic and related mental health and public safety issues at Saline High School, Congresswoman Debbie Dingelljoined WEMU's David Fair to add to the conversation. The 12th district Democrat from Dearborn shared her family's addiction issues and discussed the need for a change in the social and legislative approach to garner more positive outcomes.  

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell knows about addiction.  The 12th District congresswoman grew up with a father addicted to prescription pills.  The Dearborn Democrat's sister started with drugs before the age of 10 and, ultimately, lost her life to addiction.  Dingell says it is fair to characterize her feelings at the time as helpless and hopeless.  But, no more.

Dingell tells  89.1 WEMU's David Fair that community conversations, like the one at Saline High School Monday night, help remove the stigma of addiction and the mental health issues that often result in self-medication and addiction. 

Listen to the interview to hear more about the policy direction Congresswoman Dingell is trying to advance to better address the needs of those requiring help and service. 

Non-commercial, fact based reporting is made possible by your financial support.  Make your donation to WEMU todayto keep your community NPR station thriving.

Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

— David Fair is the WEMU News Director and host of Morning Edition on WEMU.  You can contact David at734.487.3363, on twitter @DavidFairWEMU, or email him at dfair@emich.edu

Contact David: dfair@emich.edu
Related Content