WHO USE
>>> ITS BEEN MORE DOCUMENTED
THAT INDIANA AND THE REST OF THE
COUNTRY ARE IN THE MIDST OF AN
OPIOID EPIDEMIC.
>> THEY'RE CALLING IT THE WORST
DRUG CRISIS IN HISTORY.
>> TONIGHT MARY MILLS HAS
ANOTHER SIDE OF THE STORY.
ONE THAT SOME PEOPLE SAY IS NOT
BEING TOLD ENOUGH.
MARY IF.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THIS STORY IS DIFFERENT.
IT'S THE RESULT OF AN E-MAIL I
RECEIVED FOLLOWING A PIECE I DID
ON CITIES LIKE INDIANAPOLIS
GOING AFTER DRUG MAKERS BY
FILING LAWSUITS.
NOW, THAT E-MAIL BEGINS WITH I
AGREE THERE'S A BIG PROBLEM, BUT
NO AGREEMENT OF THOSE PEOPLE
THAT REALLY DO NEED THE
MEDICATION.
HERE'S WHAT I LEARNED.
BLOOMINGTON IS KNOWN AS AN
ACTIVE, VIBRANT COMMUNITY, BUT
IT'S NOT THAT WAY FOR MARGARET,
NOT ANYMORE.
>> IF SOMEONE WERE TO LOOK AT ME
WALKING DOWN THE STREET OTHER
THAN A LIMP AND MY HANDS BEING
SWOLLEN, THEY WOULD SAY, OH,
SHE'S FINE.
>> Reporter: BUT SHE'S NOT.
MAR GRAT SUFFERS FROM
DEBILITATING CHRONIC PAIN.
>> WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING
THE PAIN IS SO SEVERE YOU DON'T
WANT TO MOVE.
IT HURTS TO LAY IN THE BED.
>> RIGHT THERE.
>> Reporter: SHE COMES HERE
FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY ONCE A WEEK
AND INVITED TO US SEE WHAT SHE
GOES THROUGH TO ALLEVIATE SOME
OF THE PAIN.
>> AND THE NECK AND THE ELBOWS
AND THE HANDS HAVE BEEN REALLY
STIFF.
>> Reporter: MARGARET AS BEEN
LIVING WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
SINCE SHE WAS 11 YEARS OLD.
SHE FEELS IT'S THROUGHOUT HER
ENTIRE BODY.
THE THERAPY ALSO HELPS WITH HER
FIBROMYALGIA.
ON TOP OF ALL THAT SHE RECEIVES
CHEMOTHERAPY FOR A CHRONIC
DIAGNOSIS.
>> BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICINE AND
AN ANTI-DEPRESS SANT.
>> Reporter: BUT THIS IS WHY
WE'RE HERE, HYDROCODONE.
MARGARET TAKES THREE TO FIVE
PILLS A DAY AFTER TRYING
EVERYTHING ELSE.
SHE SAYS IT'S THE ONLY DRUG THAT
HELPS.
>> I DON'T GET A BUZZ OFF OF IT.
WHAT IT DOES IS ALLOWS ME TO
WALK ACROSS THE KITCHEN FLOOR
WITHOUT HAVING TO HOLD ONTO A
CHAIR GOING FROM PLACE TO PLACE.
IT MAKES ME FUNCTION IT.
ALLOWS ME TO SIT HERE AND TALK
TO YOU.
>> Reporter: MARGARET'S BEEN
TAKING IT FOR THREE YEARS UNDER
THE CLOSE SUPERVISION OF HER
DAUGHTER, BUT GETTING THE
PRESCRIPTION REFILLED HAS BECOME
INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT.
>> I GO TO A DIFFERENT DOCTOR
THEY GO, OH, YOU'RE ON THE
OPIOID AND THAT BECOMES THE SOLE
FOCUS.
>> Reporter: MARGARET HAS TO
HAVE A DRUG TOAST PROVE SHE'S
THE ONE TAKING THE DRUG.
IT COSTS HER INSURANCE COMPANY
$700.
>> WHAT HAPPENS IF MY INSURANCE
COMPANY COMES BACK AND SAYS
WE'RE NOT GOING TO PAY FOR YOUR
DRUG TEST ANYMORE?
I DON'T -- THAT'S ALMOST AS MUCH
AS I MAKE IN DISABILITY A MONTH.
>> Reporter: SHE SAYS EVERY
DAY SHE WISHES SHE DIDN'T NEED
REHAB.
WISHES SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO TAKE A
SINGLE DRUG, ESPECIALLY ONE AT
THE CENTER OF AN ADDICTION
EPIDEMIC.
>> IT'S SO HARD FOR ME BECAUSE I
LOOK AROUND AND I SEE SO MANY
PEOPLE WANTING TO PUT BLAME ON
EVERYBODY, BUT I'M, LIKE, WAIT A
MINUTE THESE DRUGS WERE DESIGNED
FOR PEOPLE WHO USE THEM
CORRECTLY.
IT'S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE I DON'T
FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE
STIGMATIZED AND PENALIZED FOR
HAVING A CRLG CONDITION I HAVE
NO CONTROL OVER.
I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE HERE.
>> AND I TALKED TO MARGARET THIS
AFTERNOON AGAIN.
SHE SAYS SHE KNOWS THERE'S A
PROBLEM BUT ALSO SAYS THERE'S A
LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE HER WHO NEED
THESE DRUGS TO FUNCTION AND,
JOHN, SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE
ANSWER IS.
SHE SAYS SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE
DONE.
>> IT AND SOUNDS LIKE SHE'S
GOING THROUGH SO MANY HOOPS TO
GET THE DRUGS SHE NEEDS.
>> SHE HAS TO GET A ONE-MONTH
SUPPLY, AND IT PRESCRIPTION HAS
TO COME FROM THE SAME DOCTOR AND
SAME FARM SI. IT HAS TO BE
PICKED UP IN THIS PERSON BY HER,
AND SHE CAN'T GET IT A DAY
EARLY, AND THAT MAY NOT SOUND
LIKE A LOT, BUT IF YOU'RE
SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC PAIN AND
IT'S TOUGH JUST GETTING THROUGH
THE DAY THAT'S A LOT TO GO
THROUGH.
>> ALL RIGHT, INTERESTING SIDE