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JASON: OPIOID ADDICTION DOESN'T
JUST HAPPEN IN A VACUUM.
IT'S DESTRUCTIVE FINGERS REACH
FAR BEYOND THE PERSON MISUSING.
THE RIPPLE EFFECT SENDS SHOCK
WAVES AND PAIN THROUGH ENTIRE
FAMILIES.
11 NEWS REPORTER LACEE GRIFFITH
INTRODUCES US TO ONE MARYLAND
MOM WHO USED HER EXPERIENCE TO
HELP EDUCATE OTHERS.
REPORTER: RAISING FOUR KIDS IN
WESTERN MARYLAND, CARIN MILLER
NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD HAPPEN TO
HER FAMILY.
>> WE NEVER SAW THIS COMING.
REPORTER: CARIN'S HUSBAND GREG
IS A CONSTRUCTION WORKER.
HE GOT HURT IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN
2000 AND NOT LONG AFTER,
SUFFERED AN INJURY ON THE JOB.
THAT'S WHEN HIS ADDICTION TO
PILLS BEGAN.
>> THE DISEASE PROGRESSED.
HE GOT HIS OWN PRESCRIPTION FROM
THE DOCTOR.
THAT BECAME NOT ENOUGH PILLS.
REPORTER: THAT'S WHEN THEIR
MONEY STARTED TO DISAPPEAR.
>> EVERY DAY, I'D GO INTO THE
BANK ACCOUNT AND THERE WOULD BE
$60 GONE.
SO HE WAS BUYING THAT MUCH EXTRA
EVERY DAY.
REPORTER: SHE, LIKE MANY OTHERS,
DIDN'T KNOW HOW POWERFUL THE
DRUGS ARE.
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE BIT
STRONGER THAN AN ASPIRIN.
REPORTER: FOR THEIR SON, LUCAS,
HIS ADDICTION STARTED AROUND
2009 IN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT WAY.
>> A ROOMMATE THAT HE LIVED WITH
WAS DEALING PILLS, AND I DIDN'T
KNOW THIS.
REPORTER: LUCAS STARTED TO MORPH
INTO A DIFFERENT PERSON.
>> I NOTICED A LOT OF SNIFFLING,
AND I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD
ALLERGIES, HERE AGAIN I'M
CLUELESS.
REPORTER: HIS OLDER SISTER
LINDSAY STARTED TO SEE SIGNS
LUCAS WAS MISUSING DRUGS, EVEN
BEFORE THEIR MOM.
>> HE STARTED HIDING HIS HANDS,
I STARTED NOTICING NEEDLE MARKS
.
HIS ATTITUDE CHANGED, HIS WORK
ETHIC, HE WRECKED A NUMBER OF
VEHICLES IN THE FAMILY, IT JUST
KIND OF BECAME OBVIOUS.
REPORTER: BOTH CARIN AND LINDSAY
TRIED TO INTERVENE.
>> HE'D COME TO ME CRYING
SAYING, "MOMMY, HOW DID I GET
THIS?
I DON'T WANT TO BE LIKE THIS
ANYMORE.
"
HE REALLY DIDN'T.
MY HUSBAND DOESN'T WANT TO BE
LIKE THIS.
THEY'RE VICTIMS OF THIS PANDEMIC
THAT WE FACE DAILY.
REPORTER: LUCAS SPIRALED OUT OF
CONTROL.
>> HE PUSHED ME AWAY, TOLD ME TO
LEAVE HIM ALONE, HE WAS REALLY
SICK, REALLY SWEATY, CLAMMY,
WOULDN'T GET HELP.
>> AND YOU WERE SCREAMING AND
CRYING IN YOUR BED, WONDERING
WHERE THEY ARE, AND HOPING YOU
DON'T GET THAT PHONE CALL.
REPORTER: CARIN WENT DOWN EVERY
AVENUE TO HELP LUCAS.
SHE EVEN BEGAN SENDING HIM TO
NEXT AGO FOR AN IBOGAINE
TREATMENT, WHICH IS ILLEGAL IN
THE U.S.
ACCORDING TO THE FDA, IBOGAINE
HAS A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE,
IS NOT ACCEPTED AS A MEDICAL
TREATMENT IN THE STATES, AND
IT'S NOT SAFE EVEN UNDER MEDICAL
SUPERVISION.
BUT SHE SAYS IT HELPED.
>> WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF THAT
TIME, HE FOUND SOBRIETY WHICH
WAS THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING
.
REPORTER: THAT WAS IN LUCAS'
2014.
LIFE HAS CHANGED.
HE MOVED TO COLORADO.
HAS A JOB.
HAS A CAR.
AND HIS FAMILY SAYS, HE'S
HIMSELF AGAIN.
>> I MEAN, HE'S SO HAPPY, HE'S
DOING SO MUCH BETTER.
JUST TO BE ABOUT TO SEE HIM
SMILE IS AWESOME.
REPORTER
>> I WISH I HAD EDUCATED MYSELF
BACK THEN, WHICH IS WHAT I
EDUCATED OTHER FAMILIES TO DO.
REPORTER: CARIN DECIDED TO TAKE
ACTION.
AROUND 2012, SHE CREATED SAVE
OUR CHILDREN, A FAMILY PEER
SUPPORT GROUP, AND THEN,
MARYLAND HEROIN AWARENESS
ADVOCATES.
>> I CONNECTED WITH OTHER
FAMILIES THAT WERE GOING THROUGH
THIS WHO WERE NOT EMBARRASSED
AND ASHAMED TO TALK ABOUT IT AND
.
REPORTER: NOW THAT LUCAS IS IN A
GOOD PLACE, CARIN IS HOPEFUL
GREG CAN GET THERE, TOO.
>> BUT BECAUSE HE ALMOST DIED IN
2011 FROM WITHDRAWAL, HE'S
SCARED.
AND THEN WHEN HE FELT THE
WITHDRAWAL FROM THE SABOXONE, IT
BROUGHT BACK THOSE TRAUMATIC
MEMORIES FROM THE PERCOCET
WITHDRAWAL.
REPORTER: SHE SAYS THE GOAL IS
TO GET GREG INTO A TREATMENT
CENTER.
>> I'M PROUD OF MY DAD.
MY DAD IS A HARD WORKER.
HE'S AN AWESOME PERSON.
AND ALTHOUGH IT'S FRUSTRATING MY
MOM HAS BEEN BY HIS SIDE THE
WHOLE TIME.
>> IT'S A LIFETIME BATTLE AND
THEY WILL STRUGGLE FOREVER WITH
THIS OPIOID ADDICTION.
IF YOU SEE A SIGN, CONSIDER THAT
THE POSSIBILITY THAT THERE'S A
PROBLEM WITHIN YOUR FAMILY.
REPORTER: CARIN FEELS BLESSED
HER 28-YEAR-OLD SON, AND HUSBAND
OF 33 YEARS, ARE STILL HERE ON
EARTH, BECAUSE FOR MANY OTHERS
STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION,
THEY'RE NOT AS LUCKY.
REPORTING IN WESTERN MARYLAND,
LACEE GRIFFITH, WBAL TV 11 NEWS.
JASON: JOINING ME NOW, A PANEL
OF EXPERTS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST
HEROIN AND OPIOID ADDICTION.
LET ME INTRODUCE A SUBSTANCE
ABUSE CONSULTANT, MIKE GIMBEL,
AND HARTFORD COUNTY SHERIFF.
THANK YOU FOR COMING BY.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BEGINNINGS
OF THIS.
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE
PRESCRIPTION DRUG HAD PROMISED.
TALK ABOUT THE TIME WHEN IT WAS
RELIEVING PAIN.
>> THERE IS A LEGITIMATE USE OF
OPIOIDS.
IF SOMEONE HAS TERRIBLE PAIN, IF
THEY WERE IN AN ACCIDENT, IF
THEY HAVE CANCER, THERE IS A
LEGITIMATE USE.
PRESCRIPTION OPIOIDS LIKE
MORPHINE AND OXYCODONE HAVE A
USE.
THE PROBLEM IS AS A RESULT OF
VERY AGGRESSIVE AND INACCURATE
MARKETING BY DRUG COMPANIES, WE
HAD THIS EPIDEMIC OF
OVERPRESCRIBING OF THEIR SHIITES
-- OPIOIDS.
THE CDC ACCIDENT -- ESTIMATES
THERE ARE MILLIONS OF
OVERWRITTEN PRESCRIPTIONS,
ENOUGH FOR EVERY ADULT IN
AMERICA TO HAVE THEIR OWN
BOTTLE.
IT'S A BIG PROBLEM AND A BIG
CONTRIBUTOR TO WHY WE HAD THIS
EPIDEMIC.
JASON: YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT
THE PERFECT STORM.
WE DRIFTED AWAY FROM THE MEDICAL
CABINET AND SUBURBAN AREAS
STARTED TO SEE IT BLOSSOM.
>> WHAT HAPPENED WAS HEROIN
BECAME KIND OF CHIC, THEY'RE
EQUAL IN HOLLYWOOD.
SEVERAL CELEBRITIES DIED FROM
HEROIN.
THE MARKETING GROUP, AND THE.
-- THE PURITY GREW, IT BECAME
SO PURE, THAT IT STARTED HITTING
THE SUBURBS.
THEN IT BECAME A WAR BETWEEN
GANGS, COLOMBIANS, THE BLACK
GUERRILLA FAMILY.
ALL THE DIFFERENT FACTIONS
WANTED IT.
THEN WE HAD SENTINEL.
ALL OF A SUDDEN IT BECAME COOL.
THEY REALIZED THEY DIDN'T HAVE
TO INJECT IT.
THEY COULD SMOKE IT OR SNORTED,
WHICH MADE IT VERY ACCEPTABLE
INTO THE MIDDLE-CLASS
COMMUNITIES.
I'M NOT A JUNKIE, I'M NOT
SHOOTING UP HEROIN BUT THEY ARE
SNORTING,, SEEING IT AT PARTIES.
HIGH SCHOOL PARTIES AND COLLEGE
PARTIES.IT BECAME COOL.
THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE DRUG
DOES.
JASON: YOU BRING UP SENTINEL.
THOSE NUMBERS ARE STAGGERING.
YOU HAVE DEALT WITH DOZENS OF
CASES IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
>> WE HAVE SEEN A GREAT>>
INCREASE, UP ABOUT 165% COMPARED
TO LAST YEAR.
WE HAVE LOST 23 LIVES ALREADY IN
HARTFORD COUNTY THIS YEAR.
THE FIRST AUTOPSIES HAVE COME
BACK SENTINEL, NOT HEROIN.
IT IS A PROGRESSION.
IT IS PLENTIFUL AND CHEAP.
JASON: WHAT IS THE HARDEST PART
OF YOUR JOB TRYING TO CONTAIN
THIS ON THE SOURCE AND THE USER
END?
>> WE ARE TARGETING THE DEALERS
WHO WOULD SELL HEROIN AND
FENTANYL.
WE ARE TARGETING DEALERS IN
HARTFORD COUNTY.
THE HARDEST PART, WE ARE TRYING
TO STEER THE VICTIMS, IS BASIC
KINDS -- IF THEY SURVIVE, TO
TREATMENT.
THERE WAS ONE WHO HAD FOUR PRIOR
OVERDOSES, AND THE FIFTH ONE WAS
HIS LAST.
THE TREATMENT IS THE HARDEST
PART.
IT IS A NONTRADITIONAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT ROLE, BUT WORKING
WITH COUNTY PARTNERS WE ARE
WORKING ON IT, TRYING NOT TO
CHARGE PEOPLE WITH OVERDOSES.
ACCORDING TO THE ACT, WE PUSH
THE PEOPLE TOWARD TREATMENT.
JASON: AS WE TALK ABOUT
OVERDOSES, I HAVE A FEELING
THERE'S A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION
WHEN IT COMES TO NARCAN.
>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S A
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.
MY CONCERN HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT
NARCAN IS AN AMAZING DRUG, BUT
WITHOUT DOING SOMETHING, ONCE
YOU BEING -- BRING THE PERSON
BACK FROM DEATH, IF YOU DON'T
HAVE TREATMENT TO SEND THEM TO,
THE MAJORITY WILL USE OVER AND
OVER AGAIN.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE FIGHTING WITH
ONE ARM TIED BEHIND YOUR BACK.
NARCAN IS AN AMAZING DRUG.
IT'S A MIRACLE DRUG.
WE KNOW THAT.
BUT WITHOUT HAVING THE
TREATMENT, IMMEDIATE TREATMENT,
I DON'T MEAN JUST GOING TO THE
ER, I'M TALKING ABOUT LONG-TERM
TREATMENT, THEN WE ARE LOSING
THE BATTLE.
THE MAJORITY OF THESE ADDED --
ADDICTS, THIS IS WHAT THEY DO.
YOU SAVE THEIR LIFE, AND THEY
THINK THEY CAN KEEP USING.
NARCAN DOESN'T CHANGE THEIR
BEHAVIOR BUT IT SAVES THEIR
LIFE,.
MY CONCERN HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT
WE NEED TO BEEF UP THE AMOUNT OF
TREATMENT SO THAT POLICE
OFFICERS AND HEALTH WORKERS,
WHEN THEY BRING SOMEONE BACK,
THEY CAN GET THEM
IMMEDIATELY.WITH AN ADDICT
, YOU HAVE TO GET THEM INTO
TREATMENT QUICKLY.
JASON: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF
THOSE TWO?
>> IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE>>
BOTH, BUT I THINK WE HAVE A
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.
THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT IF WE
DON'T SAVE A LIFE TODAY, THERE'S
NO CHANCE TOMORROW FOR A BETTER
TOMORROW.
THERE'S NO CHANCE FOR A BETTER
DAY TOMORROW.
MY OATH IS TO SAVE LIVES IT IS
MY PROFESSIONAL.
RESPONSIBILITY AND MORAL DUTY.
IF I SEE SOMEONE IN FRONT OF ME
AND I KNOW THEY CAN GIVE THIS
ONE MEDICATION TO SAVE THEIR
LIFE, I HAVE TO DO THAT.
IN BALTIMORE CITY WE HAVE GOTTEN
THIS TO SO MANY RESIDENTS THAT
EVERYDAY PEOPLE HAVE USED NARCAN
OVER 800 TIMES TO STABILIZE
EVERYDAY PEOPLE.
.
NOT POLICE ARE PARAMEDICS,
NEIGHBORS WHO SAVED THE LIVES OF
THEIR OTHER NEIGHBORS.
ANNOUNCER: STILL AHEAD ON "STATE
OF ADDICTION," WHAT OUR PANEL OF
EXPERT THINKS ON TRYING TO GET A
HANDLE ON THE OPIOID CRISIS.
>> WE WERE THE FIRST IN THE
COUNTRY TO GET SOMEONE.
NOW WE ARE THE FIRST IN THE
COUNTRY TO DECLARE THE STATE OF
EMERGENCY.IT IS STILL NOT
ENOUGH.
ANNOUNCER: MARYLAND LEADING THE
CHARGE AGAINST OPIOID MISUSE.
WE SIT DOWN WITH GOVERNOR HOGAN
TO TALK ABOUT WHY HE DECLARED A
STATE OF EMERGENCY ON THE DRUG
PROBLEM.
DO YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW NEED
HELP WITH ADDICTION?
CALL OUR HOTLINE.
WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS READY TO TAKE
YOUR CALL.
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