UG IS HELPING ONE MAN
RECLAIM HIS LIFE.
ULTIMATELY, IT IS THE
INDIVIDUAL THAT NEEDS TO MAKE
THAT CHOICE.
VICKI: IT IS THE PERSONAL DESIRE
TO GET CLEAN AND STAY CLEAN THAT
BRINGS HEROINE AND PAIN PILL
ADDICT TO SACRAMENTO'S CORE
MEDICAL CLINIC.
DR. RANDALL STENSON IS THE
CLINIC'S MEDICAL DIRECTOR,
PRESCRIBING METHADONE OR YOU FOR
NORTH AND - BUPRENOPHRINE TO
TREA
HE SAYS IT IS THE BEST CHANCE AT
LASTING RECOVERY.
>> UNTIL WE FIND BETTER WAYS OF
TREATING IT, THIS IS THE BEST
WAY TO TREAT IT.
VICKI: RECOVERY IS LONG AND
PERSONAL.
AN ADDICT MUST HAVE A DESIRE TO
END THE VICIOUS CYCLE.
>> EACH PERSON HAS THEIR OWN
STORY.
>> WAS FIRST INTRODUCED TO
OPIOIDS THROUGH A FOOTBALL
INJURY.
I HAD A FEW KNEE SURGERIES, AND
THAT IS WHEN I DISCOVERED
OPIOIDS.
VICKI: DAVID AGREED TO TELL HIS
STOR OF ADDICTION AND RECOVERY
TO HELP OTHERS GET CLEAN.
>> WHEN YOU HEAR PEOPLE
WHISPERING ANALYST RING, YOU
CANNOT HELP BUT WONDER IF YOU
ARE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION.
VICKI: USING OPIOIDS AS
DESCRIBED DID NOT LEAD TO HIS
ADDICTION.
DAVID WENT ON TO BUILD A
SUCCESSFUL REAL ESTATE BUSINESS.
THEN, THE MARKET CRASHED.
>> WE LOST QUITE A BIT OF MONEY.
THAT IS WHEN THE DEPRESSION AND
FEELINGS OF INADEQUACY SET IN.
I REMEMBER HAVING A BAD NIGHT
AND SAYING YES.
I LIKED IT.
IT HELPED ME FORGET ABOUT WHAT
WAS GOING ON AT HOME.
FROM THERE, IT WAS A DOWNHILL
SLIDE FOR ABOUT 13 MONTHS.
AND THAT I ONE THE STREET DRUGS
AND THE HEROINE CAME INTO MY
LIFE.
VICKI: THERE WERE MULTIPLE TRIPS
TO REHABS, BUT IT WAS NOT UNTIL
HE WAS INTRODUCED TO MEDICALLY
ASSISTED TREATMENT THAT REAL
RECOVERY TOOK HOLD.
>> I FOUND CORE ON A REFERRAL
WHEN I LEFT THE RECOVERY CENTER
IN CALAVERAS COUNTY.
I WAS CLEAN TWO MONTHS WHEN I
FOUND DR STENSON AND I WANTED
TO STAY THAT WAY.
VICKI: DAVID CHOSE BUPRENORPHINE
OVER METHADONE.
IT CUT THREE DRAWLS -- CRACKS
WITHDRAWS AND HAS A HIGH RATE OF
RECOVERY.
VICKI: I HAVE BEEN ON SUBOXONE
NOW FOR 29 MONTH --
>> I HAVE BEEN ON SUBOXONE NOW
FOR 29 MONTH.
I HAVE NOT HAD A CRAVING SINCE I
HAVE BEEN ON THIS DRUG.
VICK UNLIKE METHADONE, WHICH
IS GIVEN IN DAILY DOSES,
BUPRENORPHINE IS GIVEN IN WEEKLY
DOSES OR MORE.
WHILE THE METHOD ON IS COVERED
BY MEDI-CAL, SUBOXONE IS NOT.
>> DEEPEN OUR FRIEND IS NOT
COVERED BUPRENORPHINE IS NOT
COVER THE SAME WAY THE
GOVERNMENT COVER METHADONE, SO
THERE IS GOING TO BE ISSUES
RELATE TO FINANCES.
THERE IS $250 A MONTH FEE
AFTER THAT THAT THEY DO NOT
COVER.
VICK IT IS A SMALL PRICE TO
PAY FOR DAVID.
I DID NOT WANT TO BE THAT HAD
A FATHER OR HUSBAND.
IT IS NOT THE WAY I WAS RAISED.
IT IS NOT THE MAN I WANTED TO
BE.
I SOUGHT OUT HELP.
VICK BUPRENORPHINE IS PART OF
DAVID'S TREATMENT.
COUNSELING AND ATTENDING A 12
STEP PROGRAM ALSO HELPED KEEP
HIM CLEAN AND SOBER.
YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO
MAKE A SPIRITUAL CHANGE AND TO
TAKE A GOOD LOOK IN THE MIRROR
AT THAT PERSON.
AND REALIZE THAT IS NOT WHO YOU
WANT TO BE ANYMORE.
JUST TAKING THE MEDICINE IS NOT
GOING TO DO THAT.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF OTHER WORK TO
DO, TOO.
VICKI: HIS MESSAGE RATHER PEOPLE
CONSIDERING RECOVERY --
>> GET HELP.
FIND THE PROGRAM THAT WORKS BEST
FOR YOU, AND PUT YOUR HEART AND
SOUL INTO IT.