That figure, provided by the Michigan Automated Prescription System, includes 10 million units of the highly addictive painkiller OxyContin. It doesn't include the near 46 million units of other generic medications containing the same active ingredient, oxycodone.

In five years, the number of Michigan prescriptions issued increased 15 percent.

Many of the drugs, like oxycodone, a synthetic opioid that affects the brain similarly to heroin, are blamed for a rise in heroin use, overdose deaths and life debilitating addiction.

Once addicted to pain pills, some addicts turn to black market heroin, which is cheaper and sometimes easier to obtain.

When heroin took the life of Waterford resident Jeannie Richards' son in 2011, she formed Bryan's Hope, an organization named for her son and dedicated to providing "much needed awareness and education about the danger of prescription drug abuse in the battle against opiate and heroin addiction."

The group is focused primarily on what they say is a heroin epidemic in Waterford, much of it spawned from prescription drug abuse.

The Bryan's Hope Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Night will take place from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the VFW Post 1008, 1690 Airport Road in Waterford.

It's expected to include presentations from experts regarding statistics, signs of abuse, treatment options and conclude with a question-and-answer session.

Call 248-410-4163, or visit the Bryan's Hope website for more information.