HEADQUARTERS. WHILE I ATTENDED NOT MAKE THE
CUT, OTHER CITIES ARE STILL
CANDIDATES.
CANDIDATES. >> A PRESCRIPTION FOR PAIN, THE
NUMBER ONE KILLER OF AMERICANS
UNDER 50 IS NOW A DRUG
OVERDOSE, AND DEATHS ARE RISING
FASTER THAN EVER BECAUSE OF THE
OPIOID CRISIS.
OPIOID CRISIS. BRADLEY BLACKBURN TAKES US
INSIDE THE STRUGGLE IN
TONIGHT'S WFAA ORIGINAL.
>> AARON SLATER -- 23 DIED MAY
23, 2017.
23, 2017.
23, 2017. >> IT TOO OFTEN, THIS IS HOW
THE STORY ENDS.
>> AARON BATTLED ADDICTION FOR
THE LAST FIVE YEARS OF HIS
LIFE.
LIFE.
LIFE. >>
LIFE. >> WITH GARY AND PATTY, THEY
LOST THEIR YUGS O N
THEY KNEW THAT THEY WOULD WANT
HIM TO BE HONEST IN HIS
OBITUARY.
OBITUARY.
OBITUARY. >> HE WANTED OTHERS HELPED, AND
YOU DON'T HELP PEOPLE BY HIDING
THIS IN THE DARKNESS.
>> HE DIED OF A HEROIN
OVERDOSE.
OVERDOSE.
OVERDOSE. >> HE WET 0DY
TREATMENT CENTER, EWN OA
90 DAY TREAMN CENTER.
>> HE WANTED TO GET WELL.
>> ONE WEEK AFTER TREATMENT, HE
RELAPSE
RELAPSE
RELAPSE >> YOURAHOTT VRNE
OF US ITFL THAT DAY.
I THINK THE PURPOSE OF THAT WAS
HEY -- I I DNTMAKE IT,I
JUST WANT U OBE SURE YOU
K+@NOW, THAT YOU HEARD FROM ME,
THAT I LOVE +@YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, I AM NUMBER
FOUR.
FOUR.
FOUR. >>
FOUR. >> 5:30 A.M., THE DOORS P.
WE ARE IN AACMANY NEVER
SEE.
SEE.
SEE. MATTHEW WILLIAMS IS TRYING TO
HEAL, AN ARMY VETERAN AND
FATHER WHO GOT ADDICTED TO PAIN
PILLS, AND THEN HEROIN.
>> NUMBER 40.
>> HE COMES EVERY DAY FOR A
DOSE OF PINK LIQUID. THIS IS
METHADONE.
METHADONE. >> IT TASTES LIKE COUGH SYRUP.
>> HE GETS WEEKLY COUNSELING,
BUT SAYS THE MEDICINE IS VITAL.
>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE MEDICINE
+@
+@ SO
+@ SO THAT YOU CAN FUNCTION EVERY
DAY.
DAY.
DAY. >>
DAY. >> METHADONE IS AN OLD AND
TESTED DRUG, BUT THERE IS STILL
A MYSTERY AND STIGMA.
THEY KEEP THE DRUG LOCKED UP AT
+@
+@ NIGHT,
+@ NIGHT, THE NURSE MUST SCAN IN
PATIENCE AND GIVE MEDICINE FROM
A SECURE ROOM.
+@
A SECURE ROOM. IT IS AN OPIOID LIKE MEDICINE
WITH MILD EFFECTS THAT ATTACHES
TO RECEPTORS IN THE BRAIN TO
PREVENT WITHDRAWAL.
PREVENT WITHDRAWAL. >> I DEFINITELY THINK THAT IT
WORKS.
WORKS.
WORKS. IT
WORKS. IT IS HELPING.
>> LISA NELSON RUNS THIS
CLINIC, ONE OF 23 IN TEXAS.
>> SOM+@EBODY IS READY TO GET
CLEAN, THEY NEED A PLACE TO GO.
>> WHILE SOME CAN BEAT IT
WITHOUT MEDICATION, MANY OTHERS
NEED THIS.
NEED THIS. >> WE GET THEM TO SHOW UP AND
STAY, TO COME IN E+@VERY DAY, W
CAN +@SEE THE SUCCESS RATE COME
UP TO 90%.
THAT HELPS A LOT.
>>> CODY BALLARD IS 26, EVERY
MORNING HIS PARENTS DRIVE+@ IN
MINUTES EACH WAY.
>> I DID NOT WANT TO BURY HIM
BEFORE HE WAS 25.
>> SHE SPENT $100,000 TRYING TO
HELP HIM BEFORE HE ASKED FOR
METHADONE.
METHADONE. >> HE FIRST ASKED ME IF I WOULD
TAKE HIM TO THE METHADONE
CLINIC AND I TOLD HIM NO.
I REFUSED TO TRADE ONE THING
FOR ANOTHER.
FOR ANOTHER. >> FOR HIM, THIS IS T+@HE ONE
THING THAT HAS WORKED TO HOLD
DOWN A JOB, AND REBUILD HIS
LIFE.
LIFE.
LIFE. >>
LIFE. >> IS A DIFFERENT PERSON.
HE IS THE PERSON I KNEW 12
YEARS AGO.
YEARS AGO. >> I WANT TO BE GOOD TO MYSELF,
AND TO MY FAMILY.
>> TRYING AND FAILING, AND
TRYING AGAIN.
TRYING AGAIN. THESE FAMILIES SAY THAT WHAT
ADDICTS NEED IS UNDERSTANDING.
>> THE WORST THING WE CAN DO IS
TO MAKE THEM FEEL MORE ASHAMED.
>> THAT IS WHY ON THIS DAY, AT
THE COURTHOUSE IN DENTON, PATTY
IS THERE.
IS THERE.
IS THERE. >> I'M REPRESENTING MY SON.
TWO WOMEN WHO COMPLETED AN 18
MONTH PROGRAM, INSTEAD OF GOING
TO JAIL.
TO JAIL.
TO JAIL. >> SHE CAME WITH THREE OTHER
MOMS, WHO EACH LOST A SON TO+@
+@HEROIN.
+@HEROIN.
+@HEROIN. THEY STILL HAVE HOPE+@ FOR
OTHERS.
OTHERS.
OTHERS. >> I WANT TO GIVE YOU A HUG
TOO.
TOO.
TOO. MY
TOO. MY NAME +@IS PATTY.
>> BRADLEY BLACKBURN, CHANNEL 8
NEWS.
NEWS.
NEWS. >>>
NEWS. >>> TEXAS JOINED FIVE OTHER
STATES TODAY IN A LAWSUIT
AGAI+@NST THE MAKERS OF
OXYCONTIN.
OXYCONTIN. THERE TAKING THE