The Great Lakes Bay Region chapter of Face Addiction Now was founded in October of 2017 by community members across Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties in an effort to address the local opioid epidemic. 

On December 28, 2016, the local news headline read, “EMS crews in Bay County see 27 overdoses in 27 days,” and at that moment co-founder Lori Ziolkowski, whose daughter was struggling with substance use disorder (SUD), realized her family was not alone. She began researching organizations that were helping stop the epidemic and connected with Katie Donovan from FAN Macomb. During this time, Judge Harry Gill, who presides over the drug treatment court in Bay County, was witnessing firsthand the devastation the epidemic was having on the local community. He had heard Judge Linda Davis speak, and reached out to Phil Pavona from Ingham County FAN. Judge Gill and Lori connected, and together they created an executive board that includes law enforcement, the treatment community, and families that have been directly affected by substance use disorder. 

Our monthly FAN Forums exist to reduce stigma, educate our community about substance use disorder, and provide a place of support that welcomes everyone. We also provide free Narcan training--which includes free Narcan for attendees to take home--after every meeting in an effort to reduce overdose deaths. The community quickly embraced the work FAN was doing. Local law enforcement agencies were presented with the idea of launching Hope Not Handcuffs, so people struggling with SUD could get help finding treatment.

​On July 24, 2018, eight law enforcement agencies from across all three counties launched the program. Five months later, the local community college and university joined their efforts. The Hope Not Handcuffs program assisted 49 people into treatment during its first 7 months. We continue to explore innovative solutions to end this epidemic and support individuals and