THE MOTHER AND SON WERE
RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGES.
>>> THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC TAKE A
GROWING TOM ON AMERICA.
>> IT'S THE KIND OF ADDICTION
THAT A MOTHER AND SON BATTLED.
FOR ONE OF THEM IT ENDED
TRAGICALLY.
>> NOW THE SON IS ON A MISSION
TO HELP OTHERS BEFORE IT'S TOO
LATE.
>> ANDRE JOHNS'S JOURNEY IS OF
STRENGTH AND COURAGE.
NOW HE IS ON THE OTHER SIDE AS
A CHANGE AGENT, ADVOCATE AND
HERO.
>> IT'S LIKE PLAYING WITH THE
DEVIL AND DANCING WITH A WITCH.
>> OPIOID ADDICTION.
>> I ACTUALLY TOOK FENTANYL.
>> THERE ARE PILLS TO KILL THE
PAIN, NOT KILL YOU, BUT THEY
ARE.
TRAGICALLY AND APE JOHNSON
KNOWS THIS TO BE TRUE BECAUSE
HE LOST HIS BEST FRIEND, HIS
MOM.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD
FEEL LIKE TO WALK INTO THE
HOUSE.
>> BACK INTO THIS HOME ON
DRUMMOND'S EAST SIDE WHERE 55-
YEAR-OLD SANDRA JOHNSON WAS
FOUND DEAD IN 70s TWEE FOUFRMENT
SHE OVERDOSED ON VICODIN.
>> MY MOTHER WAS DECEASED IN
THE HOUSE WE GROUP IN.
>> SHE HAD A HEART OF GOLD AND
WAS A REGISTERED NURSE WHO GOT
HOOKED ON OPIOIDS.
SHE TOOK THEM AFTER SEVERAL
ACCIDENTS LEFT HER IN AGONY.
>> SHE HAD BECOME ANOTHER
PERSON BECAUSE THE DRUGS
HAPPENED LIKE A DEMON.
>> ANDRE KNOW THAT'S FEELING
ALL TOO WELL.
HE WAS WAS NOT ALWAYS THIS
CLEAN COMMENT AND COMPOSED.
HE USED TO BE A CRIMINAL A
ROUGH DUDE, DRUG DEALER AND
AYER'S TOO.
YOUR DRUG OF CHOICE WAS.
>> I SMOKED CRACK COCAINE.
I SMOKED MARIJUANA.
I DRANK ALCOHOL.
I WOULD CONSUME IT ALL DAY AND
ALL NIGHT.
I TOOK AT LOOK AT MYSELF.
WHAT I FOUND IS HERE I AM
HOMELESS.
I'M A HIGH SCHOOL DROP-OUT.
I'M ADDICTED TO DRUGS.
I GOT A FELONY ON MY RECORD.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LIVING.
LET ME JUST JUMP.
>> THANK GOODNESS HE HAD A
PERSON IN HIS LIFE THAT MADE
HIM FEEL LIKE LIVING WAS WORTH
IT.
>> I WALKED INTO HIS OFFICE AND
SAID I NEED HELP.
>> HIS PAROLE OFFICER TOOK HIM
TO REHAB RIGHT AWAY.
THAT IS THE REASON HE IS STILL
STANDING
>> I GRADUATED FROM MOREHOUSE.
>>HE IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO
OF THE DETROIT RECOVERY
PROJECT.
>> I LIKE TO THINK THE PROJECT
IS HELPING RIGHT HERE IN THE
HART OF THE DETROIT.
>> FROM THE COUNTRY TO THE CITY
AND THE SUBURBS IT'S THE KIND
OF HELP AND HOPE THEY CAN HOLD
ON TO.
AND RAY HAS BEEN COMPLETELY
SOBER FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS.
>> YOU CAN CONQUER THIS AND
EXCEL AND BE A LEADER IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND THROUGH THE
UNITED STATES.
HE IS FANTASTIC.
>> SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN ON
THAT ROAD, SOMEBODY WHO CAN
SHARE THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE,
STRENGTHS, HOPES AND TRIUMPHS.
IT'S A JOURNEY, NOT A
DESTINATION.
>> YOU CANNOT DO IT ALONE.
MR. JOHNSON RECEIVED THE
CHAMPION OF CHANGE AWARD FROM
FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA.
IT HIS PASSION AND WORK AND IT
IS HIS DUTY HE FEELS TO LIVE
THE LIVES THAT PEOPLE DESERVE.
.
>>> OPIOID ADDICTION IS SUCH A
BIG PROBLEM, PEOPLE NEED LOOK