>> THE STRONG ACCUSATIONS COME
FROM THE GIRLS' FAMILY.
>> BUT FIRST, THE IS PRESIDENT
OFFICIALLY DECLARING THE OPIOID
CRISIS A PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY.
>> PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID THEY'LL
PROVIDE BETTER ACCESS TO MEDICAL
CARE AND ADDICTION TREATMENT.
AND PROMISING MORE RESEARCH.
AND AN ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN
AIMED AT YOUNG PEOPLE.
>>> AN INDIANA WOMAN BECAME THE
FACE OF ADDICTION AFTER POLICE
SNAPPED A PHOTO OF HER.
SHE WAS SLUMPED IN THE CAR.
A NEEDLE IN HER ARM, AND A BABY
IN THE BACK SEAT.
MARY MILZ TRACKED HER DOWN AND
SAID THAT THE PHOTO WAS WHAT
HELPED THE WOMAN FIND HOPE.
>> REPORTER: THIS DOLLAR GENERAL
PARKING LOT IS WHERE SHE HIT
ROCK BOTTOM, THE MOST HUE
MILLATING EXPERIENCE.
AND PROMPTED HER REMARKABLE TURN
AROUND.
>> TODAY LAST YEAR I WAS SITTING
IN JAIL, AND VIEWING THE PICTURE
ON THE NEWS STATIONS ON THE TFN.
I WAS SHOCKED AND HUMILIATED.
>> THE PICTURE OF HER PASSED OUT
WENT VIRAL, TURNING THE YOUNG
MOTHER INTO A SYMBOL OF THE
OPIOID CRISIS.
>> I WAS JUST SO EMBARRASSED AND
MISERABLE.
>> Reporter: A YEAR LATER, IN
A TOWN WHERE THE WORD HELP IS
EVERYWHERE.
>> I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT
SOMEONE DECIDED TO CAPTURE THAT
MOMENT.
>> REPORTER: SHE SAYS THAT IT
SAVED HER LIFE.
>> I'VE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH
ADDICTION FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
>> REPORTER: IT BEGAN WHEN SHE
WAS 15, AND PRESCRIBED PAIN KILL
FORCE A STAPH INFECTION.
SHE GOT HOOKED AND LATER TURNED
TO HEROIN.
>> I HAD BEEN TO THE POINT WHERE
I WAS WANTING TO GET CLEAN,
DIDN'T KNOW HOW, AND TRYING TO
GET CLEAN, AND ALWAYS FAILING.
>> Reporter:6X#ñ A MORE COMPELLN
>> Reporter:6X#ñ A MORE COMPELLG
REASON TO QUIT.
HER SON PARKER.
>> I LOVE HIM DEARLY.
I WANTED TO BE A PRODUCTIVE
MEMBER FOR HIM AND BE ABLE TO
RAISE HIM CORRECTLY.
>> Reporter: ERICA MARKED HER
ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF SOBRIETY
BY POSTING PICTURES OF HER THEN
AND NOW.
>> I WAS MISERABLE AND UNHAPPY.
>> Reporter: NBC NEWS DID A
STORY ON HER, PROMPTING HER
FaceBook PAGE TO LIGHT UP.
>> PEOPLE ARE JUST OUTPOURING
THEIR LOVE.
THEY'RE REACHING OUT.
PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD HAVE
BEEN SENDING ME MESSAGES AND
SAYING THAT I INSPIRED THEM.
>> Reporter: SHE SHIDH SAID
GOT MEASURE LIFE BACK WITH
REHAB, AND HELP WITH HER FAMILY.
>> SUCK UP YOUR PRIDE AND REACH
OUT.
I FEEL LIKE I COULD HAVE
RECEIVED HELP A LOT SOONER IF I
WOULD HAVE SAID, HEY, I'M
STRUGGLING AND NEED HELP.
>> Reporter: ERICA WANTS TO
CONTINUE SHARING HER STORY.
HER STRUGGLE WITH ADDICTION,
ROAD TO RECOVERY.
SHE WANTS OTHERS TO KNOW THERE'S
HOPE.
IN HOPE, MARY MILZ, CHANNEL 13,
EYEWITNESS NEWS.
>> CONGRATULATIONS, TO ERICA,
THAT'S VERY HARD TO DO.
DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS HAVE BEEN
STEADILY INCREASING OVER THE
COUNTRY.
FROM 2015 TO 2016, OPIOID
OVERDOSE DEATHS JUMPED BY A
WHOPPING 62%.
MANY OF THE DRUGS, PARTICULARLY
HEROIN, ADDICTS USING, CONTINUE
TO GET STRONGER.
THE SLIVER IN BARTHOLOMEW
COUNTY, THE SHERIFF SAID THEY
NEEDED TO USE THREE DOSES OF
NARCAN TO REVIVE A 29-YEAR-OLD
MAN JUST LAST NIGHT.
>> SOME START WITH PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS.
KEEPING THE LEFTOVER PILLS OUT
OF THE WRONG HANDS, THERE ARE
TAKE BACK DAYS.
AND PEOPLE CAN DROP OFF ANY
UNUSED DRUGS.
>> THIS SATURDAY.
THE LAST COLLECTION PEOPLE
TURNED IN 450 TONS OF
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS NATIONWIDE.
HERE IN INDIANA, 17,000 POUNDS
OF PILLS WERE COLLECTED, NEARLY
9 TONS.
THIS WEEKEND, THERE ARE DOZENS
OF DROPOFF SITES IN THE STATE.
ON THEÑw
ZIP CODE AND FIND OUT WHICH SITE
IS CLOSERHEST TO YOU.
WE HAVE SET IT UP AT