>> FOR, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF RHODE ISLAND HAS CREATED A HEALTHIER RHODE ISLAND.

IT TAKES A TEAM.

[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] ♪ ♪ >> THE OPIOID CRISIS HAS TOUCHED EVERY CORNER OF THE COUNTRY -- AN EPIDEMIC THAT IS BEING CALLED THE DEADLIEST PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IN U.S. HISTORY, AND IT IS HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN OUR BACKYARD.

WELCOME TO THIS RHODE ISLAND PBS SPECIAL.

RHODE ISLAND HAS FACED MANY CRISES OVER THE YEARS, BUT FEW COMPARED TO THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC THAT HAS SO MANY RHODE ISLAND FAMILIES UNDER SIEGE.

WITH THE 10TH HIGHEST OVERDOSE RATE IN THE COUNTRY, DOWN FROM THE FIFTH HIGHEST IN 2015, LOCAL LEADERS HAVE TAKEN HOLD OF THE RACE, AND THE OCEAN STATE HAS EMERGED AS AN INNOVATOR WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM.

GOVERNOR GINA RAIMONDO CORRECTED -- CREATED THE INTERVENTION TASK FORCE, IT UP A SCIENTISTS, PROFESSORS, AND THOUGHT LEADERS IN ADDICTION.

EVEN WITH ALL THAT BRAINPOWER DEDICATED TO THE FIX, I HAVE ONLY JUST BEGUN TO UNDERSTAND THE GRIP ILLICIT DRUGS HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITY.

DURING THE NEXT 50 MINUTES, WE WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO SAVE LIVES -- AND FIRST RESPONDERS TO EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT DOCTORS, AND A FAMILY THAT HAS SUFFERED THE UNIMAGINABLE.

WE WILL SPEAK WITH HEALTH CARE EXPERTS AND LEGISLATORS WHO ARE WORKING AGAINST THE CLOCK TO CREATE NEW POLICIES AND SOLUTIONS TO THIS DEADLY EPIDEMIC.

♪ ♪ RHODE ISLAND IS KNOWN FOR ITS SCENIC BEACHES, ICONIC LIGHTHOUSES, AND A VIBRANT CAPITAL ALIVE WITH ARTS, RENOWNED RESTAURANTS, AND RUSTLING COMMUTERS.

JUST UNDERNEATH THE SURFACE, THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC HAS TAKEN HOLD OF OUR COMMUNITIES, KILLING MORE THAN 1600 RHODE ISLANDERS IN THE LAST SIX YEARS.

ON THIS DAY, OUR CAMERAS ARE IN PROVIDENCE, ONE OF THE HARDEST HIT COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE.

>> RESPOND TO 99.

BUS STOP.

A MALE IS UNCONSCIOUS.

HE HAS FALLEN OFF THE BENCH.

[SIRENS] >> WHAT HIS ARM.

OK. FROM THE TOP, PLEASE.

>> PUT HIM THROUGH THE LINE?

>> PUT IT DOWN.

>> LET THAT RUN.

>> THIS AIN'T NEAR THE SUBWAY, RIGHT?

IT'S DOWN OVER THERE.

ALL RIGHT, SIR.

COME ON.

HERE WE GO.

>> RELAX.

RELAX.

RELAX.

RELAX.

>> DID YOU DO ANY DRUG TODAY?

>> I JUST PASSED OUT.

>> DID YOU DO A LITTLE BIT OR A LOT?

HOW LONG, AN HOUR AGO?

OK, THAT IS ALL.

A DRUG SO POWERFUL THEY WOULD RATHER GO BY THE DRUG THAN A KID' AS FOOD, BABIES FOOD.

I WAS IN A HOUSE ONCE WITH TWO KIDS, AND GAVE HIM AN OUR CAMP TO SAVE HIS LIFE.

AS I WAS DOING IT, HE WAS FIGHTING ME, BECAUSE HE WANTED HIS HIGH.

HE WOULD RATHER TAKE A CHANCE OF LOSING HIS LIFE THAN ME GIVE HIM NARCAN AND SAVE HIS LIFE.

HIS LITTLE KIDS WERE WATCHING THE WHOLE THING.

KIM: RESCUE CAPTAIN DAVID PALOMBO HAS BEEN A PROVIDENCE FIREFIGHTER FOR 27 YEARS AND SAYS RUNS LIKE THIS ONE ARE A DAILY OCCURRENCE.

IN THE PAST 15 MONTHS, THOSE CALLS HAVE DOUBLED.

DAVID: A LOT OF OVERDOSES ARE THE SAME COUPLE OF SPOTS IN THE CITY.

DEFINITELY, IT COULD BE A NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR, THE GUY WHO CUTS YOUR HAIR, A DENTIST, A SCHOOLTEACHER.

THIS DRUG HAS NO FRIENDS AND IS VERY EASY TO GET ADDICTED TO.

ONCE YOU ARE ADDICTED, IT IS VERY HARD TO GET OFF IT.

KIM: ACCORDING TO MEDICAL EXPERTS, ADDICTION TO OPIOIDS BEGAN WITH PRESCRIPTION DRUGS LIKE OXYCONTIN, PERCOCET, AND VICODIN, POTENT PAIN RELIEVERS TYPICALLY USED TO TREAT PATIENTS WITH SEVERE PAIN, OR TO MANAGE ACUTE PAIN AFTER SURGERY.

THE DOWNSIDE -- THEY ARE HIGHLY ADDICTIVE AND EXPENSIVE.

ONCE ADDICTED, MANY TURN TO LESS EXPENSIVE ILLICIT DRUGS LIKE HEROIN.

IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, ANOTHER DRUG HAS MADE ITS WAY TO THE STREETS AND IS MORE POWERFUL AND DEADLIER THAN ANYTHING WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE.

DAVID: THEY NEVER KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IT, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY DID.

THEY MIGHT BUY IT ON THE STREET, FROM PEOPLE THEY DON'T KNOW.

THE END RESULT IS, IF WE DO NOT GET THEM, THEY ARE GOING TO DIE.

KIM: HE IS TALKING ABOUT FENTANYL, WHICH EXPERTS SAY IS 100 TIMES STRONGER THAN MORPHINE AND 50 TIMES STRONGER THAN HEROIN.

AND DRUG DEALERS ARE MIXING IT WITH EVERYTHING FROM PILLS TO HEROIN, AND EVEN POT.

ACCORDING TO PREVENTOVERDOSE RI, AN ORGANIZATION THAT TRACKS THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC IN RHODE ISLAND, THE NUMBER OF DEATHS RELATED TO ILLICIT FENTANYL IS ON THE RISE AND HAS INCREASED ALMOST TENFOLD SINCE 2009.

IN 2016, OVER 50% OF OVERDOSE DEATHS INVOLVED ILLICIT FENTANYL.

WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THIS POWERFUL DRUG, RESCUE CREWS TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS.

DAVID: WE GET THESE RUNS NOW, PEOPLE WEARING BLACK GLOVES.

IT WILL SHOW ON THE GLOVE.

WE ARE BEING MORE CAUTIOUS.

WE KIND OF TAKE A STEP BACK AND MAKE SURE THE SCENE IS SAFE BEFORE WE DO THE RIGHT THING.

DEFINITELY THE LAST YEAR OR SO, BECAUSE OF WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE DRUG AND HOW POTENT IT IS, WE ARE BEING A LOT MORE CAUTIOUS.

KIM: AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE EMOTIONAL PULL RUNS HIGH WHEN YOUR JOB IS TO REVIVE AN OVERDOSE FOR ON A MIX OF -- VICTIM ON A MIX OF FENTANYL AND HEROIN, A DEADLY COMBINATION WHICH IS SEEN DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

BUT PALOMBO SAYS IT IS SOMETHING HE DEALS WITH.

DAVID: EMOTION RUNS INTO THIS JOB.

YOU TRY TO SHUT IT OFF.

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR HOME LIFE AND YOUR WORK LIFE.

YOU TRY TO SEPARATED.

WHEN YOU GO ON RUNS AND FAMILIES ARE AFFECTED, PARENTS ARE OVERDOSING IN FRONT OF THEIR KIDS, IT AFFECTS YOU.

IT IS HARD TO TURN IT OFF.

KIM: PALOMBO SAYS HE HAS GONE ON SO MANY OVERDOSE RUNS IN THE PAST YEAR, HE HAS LOST COUNT.

PREVENT OVERDOSE RI HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY KEEPING TRACK FROM JANUARY 2016 TO MARCH OF 2018.

THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 900 EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS FOR OVERDOSE THAT CAME FROM PROVIDENCE ALONE.

OVERALL, RHODE ISLAND'S EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS HAVE HAD MORE THAN 3450 VISITS FOR OVERDOSE DURING THAT SAME TIME.

TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, THAT IS AN AVERAGE OF 129 VISITS A MONTH, OR 4.2 EVERY DAY.

FOR DR. FRANCESCA BALDWIN, A DOCTOR AT RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL, THIS IS BECOME ROUTINE.

FRANCESCA: THIS IS NOT A SATURDAY NIGHT PROBLEM.

THIS IS A 20 47, TUESDAY AT 8:00 P.M., THURSDAY AT 3:00 P.M.

PROBLEM.

KIM: BUT ONE HAS BEEN AT RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL FOR 12 YEARS.

I ASKED IF SHE AND THE NURSING STAFF EVER EXPERIENCE COMPASSION FATIGUE FROM THE SHEER VOLUME OF OVERDOSE VICTIMS.

FRANCESCA: WITH THE EPIDEMIC, OPIOID OVERDOSES ARE PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING BECAUSE IT PREDOMINATELY AFFECT YOUNG PEOPLE.

IT IS SUDDEN.

IT IS UNEXPECTED.

I THINK THE EMOTIONAL, THE HUMAN PART OF THAT, ISRAEL -- IS REAL.

IT IMPACTS US LIKE OTHER THINGS AFFECT PEOPLE -- SOMETHING UNEXPECTED LIKE CAR ACCIDENTS.

THE IDEA OF COMPASSION FATIGUE IS SOMETHING TO BE AWARE OF.

DON'T LET THAT HAPPEN WITH THIS PROBLEM, WE HAVE TO BE PERSISTENT.

WE HAVE TO BE VIGILANT.

WE CANNOT BE FATIGUED, BECAUSE THIS IS A LONG BATTLE.

KIM: THE FATIGUE DR. BALDWIN TALKS ABOUT IS DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE SEES THE SAME FACES TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

SHE SAYS GETTING SOME -- SOMEONE WITH OPIOID USE DISORDER INTO TREATMENT IS COMPLEX, WITH CHALLENGES SUCH AS WITHDRAWAL OR NO SUPPORT.

SO WHILE THE MOMENT IMMEDIATELY AFTER AN OVERDOSE IS AN OPPORTUNITY, NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

FRANCESCA: YES, IT IS FRUSTRATING.

I THINK IT IS FRUSTRATING IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE SEE PEOPLE COME TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WITH OTHER CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS.

WE REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO GET BETTER.

WE WANT THEM TO RECOVER.

NOBODY WAS TO SEE PEOPLE COME IN WITH A REPEAT OVERDOSE.

BUT YOU CAN'T LET THAT FRUSTRATION BE PRESENT IN YOUR WORK.

IT IS A MATTER OF OFFERING WHAT WE KNOW IS THE RIGHT THINGS BASED ON THE BEST AVAILABLE EVIDENCE AND RESEARCH WE HAVE, AND REPEATEDLY TREAT THEM IN THE HOPE THAT EACH TIME THINGS ARE OFFERED, IT IS BUILDING A BRIDGE, AND ONE DAY, SOMEBODY IS GOING TO WALK OVER IT.

KIM: WE SPOKE TO ONE MAN WHO TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY, BUT NOT BEFORE ENDURING YEARS OF ACTIVE ADDICTION.

GARY WENT FROM USING PRESCRIPTION PILLS TO SNORTING AND INJECTING HEROIN IN A RELATIVELY SHORT TIME.

HE CHECKED IN TO REHAB FACILITIES, ONLY TO RELAPSE MULTIPLE TIMES.

EVENTUALLY, HE HAD HAD ENOUGH.

GARY HAS BEEN IN ACTIVE RECOVERY FOR MORE THANTHREE YEARS, AND IS PUTTING THE PIECES BACK TOGETHER.

GARY: I AM A FATHER.

I AM A SON.

I AM A BOYFRIEND.

THINGS I NEVER DREAMED I WOULD BE THE PAST THREE YEARS.

KIM: THE 28-YEAR-OLD GREW UP IN CRANSTON, IN AN UPPER-MIDDLE-CLASS HOME WITH HIS PARENTS AND YOUNGER BROTHERS, TYLER AND RYAN.

LIFE WAS GOOD.

THEY WENT ON FAMILY VACATIONS, WENT FISHING, AND GENERALLY ENJOYED EACH OTHER'S COMPANY.

BUT SHORTLY AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, THINGS CHANGED.

TELL ME ABOUT THE FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH OPIOIDS.

GARY: I HAD A MIGRAINE.

AS SOON AS I TOOK IT, ABOUT FIVE MINUTES LATER, I JUST GOT THIS OVERWHELMING SENSE OF JUST WARMTH AND HAPPINESS.

IT FILLED A VOID.

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT, I MEAN, I WAS IN LOVE, YOU KNOW?

KIM: GARY SAYS WITHIN ABOUT 30 DAYS, HE WAS COMPLETELY HOOKED ON PRESCRIPTION PILLS.

NOT LONG AFTER THAT, HE MADE THE SWITCH TO HEROIN.

GARY: I WOULD SAY WITHIN THE COURSE OF ONE YEAR.

KIM: IT CAME FROM THE MOST UNLIKELY SOURCE.

GARY: MY YOUNGER BROTHER INTRODUCED ME TO IT.

I WAS IN WITHDRAWAL ONE DAY, AND I DID NOT HAVE A CHOICE.

WHEN YOU ARE IN ACTIVE WITHDRAWAL, YOU DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.

YOU ARE GOING TO USE.

I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS MUCH, MUCH CHEAPER.

IT WAS A BETTER HIGH, AND I COULD STAY HIGH LONGER.

KIM: WHAT MAKES THIS STORY UNIQUE IS THAT ALL THREE BROTHERS BECAME ADDICTED TO HEROIN AND OTHER OPIATES, THEIR FAMILY PULLED APART BY DRUG ADDICTION, A SCENARIO BEYOND BELIEF FOR THEIR MOTHER, MAUREEN.

SHE RECALLS THE DAY SHE KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH GARY.

MAUREEN: I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS MOTHER'S INTUITION.

I SAID, SOMETHING IS WRONG.

YOU CAN JUST TELL.

I AM GOING HOME.

SO I HAD THE ABILITY TO JUST LEAVE.

AND WHEN I GOT HOME, GARRY'S CAR WAS THERE, SO I KNEW HE WAS NOT AT WORK.

I THOUGHT GARY WAS VERY DEPRESSED.

THAT IS WHAT I THOUGHT.

I SAID, GARY IS DEPRESSED.

I WALKED IN.

THERE HE WAS LAYING ON THE COUCH AND HE HAD A BLANKET OVER HIM, AND HE WAS SHIVERING.

HE LOOKED AWFUL.

HIS EYES WERE SUNKEN IN.

HIS EYES WERE LIFELESS, EVEN.

I WENT AND SAT NEXT TO HIM.

WHAT IS THE MATTER?

PLEASE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS ALONE.

I AM HERE FOR YOU.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP YOU.

ALL ALONG, I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO SAY, I AM DEPRESSED, GOING TO BREAK MY HEART.

BUT INSTEAD, HE SAYS, MOM, AND I SAID, YEAH, AND HE SAID, "I'M A DRUG ADDICT."

AND I NEVER, EVER EXPECTED TO HEAR THAT.

THAT WAS LIKE A BRICK JUST SMASHING ME IN THE SIDE OF THE HEAD.

AND I HAD TO SIT THERE AND LOOK AT HIM.

IT WAS SURREAL.

I'M SITTING THERE AND SAYING, HE IS NOT DEPRESSED.

HE JUST SAID HE IS A DRUG ADDICT.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

NOT MY GARY.

AND THEN HE STARTED CRYING.

HE WAS CRYING AND CRYING.

WE HELD EACH OTHER.

KIM: WITH THREE SONS IN ACTIVE ADDICTION, MAUREEN USED A QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT SHE DID SOMETHING WRONG, BUT NOW KNOW SHE'S PROVIDED THEM WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS.

MAUREEN: THEY WERE LOVED, SAYING TO, ROCKED.

WE HAD PATIENTS.

LOVE THEM.

WE LOVE THEM WITH UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, AND THEY STILL DO, EVEN WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED.

WERE TIMES I WOULD SAY I DO NOT LIKE YOU RIGHT NOW, OR I DON'T LIKE YOUR BEHAVIOR.

BUT I ALWAYS KNEW THAT I LOVED THEM.

KIM: WHEN DID YOU REALIZE THAT TYLER WAS USING?

MAUREEN: I KNEW -- OK, ONE TIME I WENT ONTO HIS BED TO VACUUM, AND I HIT SOMETHING WITH THE VACUUM.

WHEN I WENT UNDERNEATH THE BED, I FOUND A PICTURE FRAME WITH THE PICTURE TAKEN OUT, JUST THE GLASS.

AND I FOUND ONE OF MY KNIVES, A VERY SHARP KNIFE ON TOP OF THE GLASS.

I KNEW THERE IS NO REASON WHY A PICTURE FRAME OF GLASS SHOULD BE INSIDE HIS BED WITH A KNIFE ON TOP.

I DID NOT KNOW, BUT I ASSUMED.

REMEMBER, BY NOW, RYAN WAS USING, GARY WAS USING.

NOW, TYLER.

I DID NOT WANT TO BE IN DENIAL.

AS MUCH AS YOU DON'T WANT TO FACE IT AS A PARENT, YOU HAVE TO.

KIM: EVENTUALLY, ALL THREE BOYS MADE THEIR WAY TO A TREATMENT FACILITY IN FLORIDA, EXPERIENCING MULTIPLE RELAPSES ALONG THE WAY.

BUT ON APRIL 21 OF 2017, MAUREEN RECEIVED A PHONE CALL NOTIFYING HER THAT RYAN HAD DIED OF AN ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE.

HE WAS 26 YEARS OLD.

THE YEAR SINCE RYAN'S DEATH HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT ONE, BUT MAUREEN TRIES TO REMEMBER THE GOOD THINGS.

MAUREEN: RYAN WOULD ALWAYS SEND ME PICTURES OF THE SUNSET.

HE LOVED SUNSETS.

HE SAID, YOU TAUGHT US THE MOST WONDERFUL THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE.

HE WOULD TAKE A PICTURE OF THE SUNSET AND HE WOULD TEXT IT TO ME.

I HAVE THE PICTURE OF THE VERY LAST SUNSET THAT HE SAW.

AND THEN HE TOOK A PICTURE OF HIMSELF.

AND I WROTE THAT NIGHT RIGHT BEFORE HE DIED.

I SAID, ARE YOU OK?

HE JUST DID NOT LOOK RIGHT.

I SAID, ARE YOU OK?

AND WE RECEIVED THE TEXT MESSAGE A LITTLE WHILE BEFORE HE DIED.

HE SAID, YEAH, WHY, LOL/ WHEN HE GOT BACK ON DECEMBER 28, HE CALLED AND SAID, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.

HE SAID HE LOVED HIS STEPDAD.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

WE WILL TALK TO YOU SOON.

I HAD THAT VOICE MESSAGE FOR A LONG TIME.

ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO, I DON'T KNOW, I DIDN'T UPDATE TO MY PHONE, AND I LOST THAT VOICE MESSAGE, SO NOW I DON'T EVEN HAVE RYAN'S VOICE.

HE IS GONE FOREVER.

KIM: ACCORDING TO GARY, RYN THOUGHT HE WAS BUYING HERE WHEN THE NIGHT HE DIED, BUT WHEN THE AUTOPSY REPORT CAME BACK, IT SHOWED THERE WAS ONLY FENTANYL IN HIS SYSTEM.

SINCE THAT DAY, MARINE AND BOB ARE TAKING LIFE ONE DAY AT A TIME.

THEY RELAX OUTSIDE, OVERLOOKING THE POND WHERE THE USED TO SIT AS A FAMILY.

GARY IS DOING WELL, AND WORKING WITH OTHERS WHO STRUGGLE WITH ADDICTION, AS A PEER RECOVERY SPECIALIST.

GARY: A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF COMING OFF OF HEROIN.

I WOULD HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO JUST DO IT.

IT IS JUST WELL WORTH IT, YOU KNOW?

I HAVE DONE IT MULTIPLE TIMES, AND EVENTUALLY -- EVENTUALLY, I JUST HAD ENOUGH.

I JUST HAD THIS EPIPHANY.

YOU MEAN IF I DON'T DO HEROIN, I'M NOT GOING TO END UP BACK IN A TREATMENT CENTER?

THIS IS GREAT.

EVENTUALLY, I JUST HAD ENOUGH.

I WANTED SOME STABILTY IN MY LIFE.

I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A FAMILY AND JUST LIVE.

TO KEEP IT REALLY, REALLY SIMPLE , AND NOT TO SOUND LIKE AN OFFICER SAYING, KIDS, DON'T DO DRUGS" -- SERIOUSLY, YOU CAN EVEN TRY OPIATES ONCE.

YOU ARE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE.

YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE THAT PILL OR YOU ARE GOING TO DO HEROIN, AND THERE IS A 50/50 CHANCE WHETHER YOU ARE GOING TO HATE IT AND NEVER WANT TO TOUCH IT AGAIN, OR YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE IT AND IT IS GOING TO FILL THAT VOID.

IT IS GOING TO OVERCOME YOU WITH WARMTH AND HAPPINESS.

IT IS ALL AN ILLUSION.

KIM: BUT THAT ILLUSION IS REAL FOR MANY FAMILIES.

THE OPIOD CRISIS IS AN ISSUE THAT LEGISLATORS, DOCTORS, AND EXPERTS IN ADDICTION ARE TAKING SERIOUSLY, AND WORKING TIRELESSLY TO FIND WAYS TO OVERCOME.

SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY IS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL TASK FORCE OF STATE LEGISLATORS THAT HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH IDENTIFYING SOLUTIONS TO THE ADDICTION CRISIS.

HE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HASBRO, WHO LOST HIS SON TO ADDICTION.

TOGETHER, THEY HAVE SHAPED RHODE ISLAND'S OPIOID ADDICTION POLICY.

IN 2016, THEY PUSHED FOR REFORM IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT STATEWIDE.

>> IT IS CALLED THE HARRY GOLDMAN ACT.

THE FAMILIES HAD SONS WHO DIED OF OVERDOSES.

THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THOSE CASES APPLIED TO WHAT HAPPENS IN THE WORLD.

WE BOTH HAD SEVERAL OVERDOSE SITUATIONS THAT LED THEM TO ENGAGE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPONENTS TO IT THAT WE FEEL, SINCE ITHAS PASSED, HAVE LED TO BETTER PROTOCOLS AND BETTER OUTCOMES.

KIM: ONE OF THOSE PROTOCOLS IS TO RECEIVE A PATIENT'S CONSENT TO CALL THEIR EMERGENCY CONTACT WHILE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

HAD THEY KNOWN OF THEIR SON'S ADDICTION, AND HIS MULTIPLE VISITS TO THE E.D., THE THOUGHT IS THEY COULD HAVE INTERVENED AND GOTTEN HIM INTO TREATMENT.

ANOTHER ACT IS PROVIING A PEER RECOVERY SPECIALIST IN EVERY E.D.

SETTING ACROSS THE STATE.

GARY IS ONE OF THOSE SPECIALISTS.

GARY: I KEEP IT SIMPLE.

I DON'T WANT TO BOMBARD THEM WITH NECESSARILY MY WHOLE HISTORY.

I WILL INTRODUCE MYSELF.

THEY WILL LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME.

I WILL FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY ARE AT.

HAVE THEY BEEN TO TREATMENT IN THE PAST?

HAVE THEY NEVER DETOXED IN THEIR LIFE?

NOT EVERYBODY I WORK WITH, I CAN HELP.

I WISH I COULD HELP EVERYBODY, BUT SOME PEOPLE WANT IT ONE DAY.

A DAY LATER, THEY ARE JUST AFRAID.

KIM: P RECOVERY SPECIALIST RECEIVE INTENSE BEHAVING IN INTERVENTION.

SPECIALISTS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING ANCHOR RECOVERY, KODAK BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND COMMUNITY CARE ALLIANCE, AMONG OTHERS.

TYPICALLY, PEER RECOVERY SPECIALIST SIT WITH A PATIENT AND TRY TO WORK OUT A STRATEGY FOR TREATMENT.

WHILE SPECIALISTS ARE EFFECTIVE, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT ONLY 50% OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE E.D.

FOR AN OVERDOSE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS RESOURCE.

LUCKILY, MORE PIECES TO THE PUZZLE HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE.

>> ONCE PATIENTS ARE STABILIZED AND ARE NOT AN ACUTE PROBLEM, WE HAD VERY LITTLE FOR THEM.

NOW YOU CAN CAP RECOVERY SPECIALIST.

YOU CAN SEE A SOCIAL WORKER.

WE CAN GET YOU TO TREATMENT, SOMETIMES ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

WE CAN PROVIDE SUBOXONE IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.

WE CAN PROVIDE NALOXONE, AND TEACH WITH NALOXONE, WHICH IS ANTI-OVERDOSE.

WE DISPENSE KITS FOR FREE, SO ANYBODY WHO WANTS THEM -- PARTICULARLY, WE OFFER THEM TO PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OPIOID OVERDOSE.

THAT IS A FULL COMPLEMENT OF THINGS WE DID NOT HAVE 5, 10 YEARS AGO.

KIM: MUCH OF WHAT IS BEING OFFERED IS A TRUE BEADED TO THE TRANSFORMATIVE LEGISLATION BY SENATOR MILLER.

-- IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE TRANSFORMATIVE LEGISLATION BY SENATOR MILLER.

ALSO TRANSFORMATIVE IS GINA RAIMONDO'S TASK FORCE, A GROUP OF EXPERTS THAT BEGAN COORDINATING EFFORTS IN 2014.

ONE OF THE LEAD EXPERTS IS BRANDON MARSHALL, AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AT BROWN UNIVERSITY WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN CREATING THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

BRANDON: WE WANTED TO BE STRATEGIC AND PROPOSE MAYBE FOUR THINGS WE FELT WOULD HAVE THE BIGGEST IMMEDIATE IMPACT.

MYSELF BEING FROM VANCOUVER, I LOOKED TO A POLICY DOCUMENT THAT WAS GENERATED THERE THAT FOCUSED ON WHAT IS CALLED A FOUR PILLARS APPROACH.

THE APPROACH CAN HAVE A BIGGER IMPACT THAN IF YOU PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET OR SPREAD YOUR EFFORTS OUT IN A TOO DIFFUSE MANNER.

THAT IS IN PART WHERE WE ENDED UP WITH A FOUR PRONG STRATEGY TO ADDRESS RHODE ISLAND, FOCUSING ON PREVENTION, TREATMENT, RESCUE, AND RECOVERY.

KIM: ADDRESSING PREVENTION, ONE OF THE PILLARS IN THAT STRATEGIC PLAN, IS THE PDMP, A TOOL ROLLED OUT IN 2012 TO HELP COMBAT THE EPIDEMIC WHERE MANY BELIEVE IT BEGAN -- PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

DR. JAMES MCDONALD IS RHODE ISLAND'S MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR OVERDOSE PREVENTION, AND A MEMBER OF THE TASK FORCE.

JAMES: IT IS A TOOL, A DATABASE.

ANYONE WHO PRESCRIBES A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE HAS TO BE REGISTERED BY US, AND THEY CAN ACCESS THE SECURE DATABASE, AND THEY CAN SEE WHAT CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE PRESCRIPTION SOMEONE HAS RECEIVED IN THE PAST.

THAT IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE THEY CAN SEE WHAT FOLKS HAVE AT HOME.

KIM: DR. MCDONALD AND HIS TEAM ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF STATEWIDE INITIATIVES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS.

HE BELIEVES THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS TO TREATING PAIN.

JAMES: ONE THING I WANT TO UNDERSCORE IS PRESCRIPTION OPIOIDS ARE THE WORST CLINICAL TOOL WE HAVE IN THE TOOLBOX TO TREAT CHRONIC PAIN.

WE HAVE OTHER TOOLS -- ANTI-INFLAMMATORY MEDICINE, AVAILING OURSELVES TO OTHER DISCIPLINES LIKE PHYSICAL THERAPY, OR PRACTIC MEDICINE, ACUPUNCTURE.

THESE ARE DIFFERENT RESOURCES WE CAN OFFER OUR PATIENTS.

IT IS A FAR SAFER OPTION.

WE ALSO NEED TO UNDERSCORE THAT ALTHOUGH CHRONIC PAIN IS UNCOMFORTABLE AND AFFECTING YOUR LIFE, WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO FUNCTION IN OUR LIFE WITH SOME LEVEL OF PAIN THAT IS BETTER THAN BECOMING ADDICTED TO A MODERN PRESCRIPTION OPIOID.

KIM: ACCORDING TO THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, IN 2016, THE PDMP RECEIVED 100% ENROLLMENT BY PROVIDERS WHO PRESCRIBE OPIOIDS AND OTHER MEDICATIONS.

DR. BODWIN IS AN ADVOCATE OF THE PROGRAM.

FRANCESCA: IT IS A MEANS BY WHICH I CAN ACCESS RECENT PRESCRIPTIONS IN THE PAST YEAR FOR PATIENTS THAT I IGHT BE CONSIDERING PRESCRIBING OPIOIDS TOO.

I CAN SEE IF THEY HAVE GOTTEN OTHER CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, THINGS LIKE PERCOCET, BENZODIAZEPINE.

THAT HELPS ME DECIDE WHETHER IT IS SAFE AND APPROPRIATE TO GIVE SOMEONE AN OPIOID PRESCRIPTION.

VISITS TO MULTIPLE PROVIDERS, MULTIPLE PRESCRIPTION'S FOR OPIOIDS, MULTIPLE DIFFERENT HOSPITALS -- IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO PATIENTS ABOUT THAT.

KIM: DR. BODWIN SAYS THE PRESCRIBING OF OPEN GOODS HAS GONE DOWN AND BELIEVES THE PDMP HAS INFLUENCED THAT.

SHE ALSO BELIEVES IT IS A COMBINATION OF MANY PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

SHE SAYS PREVENTION IS A START, BUT THE PRIMARY GOAL IS SIMPLE.

IT IS ABOUT SAVING LIVES.

MANY COMMUNITIES NOW HOLD TRAINING SESSIONS TO TEACH THE GENERAL PUBLIC HOW TO ADMINISTER THE LIFE-SAVING DRUG NARCAN.

>> WE GIVE YOU THIS KIND.

IT IS A LIQUID YOU ARE GOING TO DRAW UP.

WITH A NEEDLE AND SYRINGE, EJECT IT.

WE WANT TO GET NARCAN, NALOXONE, INTO THE HANDS OF HIS MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS POSSIBLE, TO TRY TO REVERSE AND PREVENT THESE OVERDOSE DEATHS FROM HAPPENING.

OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE LONG ENOUGH THAT THEY CAN GET TO THE POINT WHERE THEY ARE READY FOR SUSTAINED RECOVERY.

RECOVERY, WE KNOW, IS A PROCESS THAT IS OFTEN PROLONGED.

IT OFTEN INVOLVES RELAX -- RELAPSE.

BUT PEOPLE DO COME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT, AND DO ACHIEVE SUSTAINED RECOVERY.

WE WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINED RECOVERY.

WE DO THAT BY TRYING TO KEEP THEM ALIVE IN THE MEANTIME.

KIM: THE DAY WE WERE THERE, EIGHT PEOPLE SHOWED UP FOR TRAINING.

PEOPLE ATTEND BECAUSE THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT A FAMILY MEMBER, A FRIEND, OR A NEIGHBOR.

SINCE 2012, AN ESTIMATED 18,000 NALOXONE KIDS HAVE BEEN DISSED TO BEADED STATEWIDE BETWEEN COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, PHARMACIES, AND HOSPITALS.

AS A PARAMEDIC, HE HAS ADMINISTERED THE DRUG MORE TIMES THAN HE WOULD LIKE TO REMEMBER.

>> I WOULD NOT WANT TO MEET THE PERSON WHO BECOMES NUMB TO THE DEVASTATED PARENT WHEN THEY DISCOVER THEIR CHILD HAS OVERDOSED AND DIED.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T REALLY GET USED TO AS A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.

YOU LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT.

YOU LEARN HOW TO DO YOUR JOB AND HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH YOUR OWN LIFE, AND IT STICKS WITH YOU.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS HARD TO WITNESS, HARD TO BE PART OF, HARD TO BE INVOLVED WITH.

IT IS HARD TO COMFORT THAT PERSON.

YOU CAN'T COMFORT THAT PERSON.

YOU CAN BE THERE FOR THEM.

YOU CAN BE SUPPORTIVE.

YOU CAN LISTEN.

BUT YOU CAN'T BRING THE KID BACK.

THAT IS HARD.

KIM: THE HOPE OF ALL THE PROGRAMS BEING IMPLEMENTED IS TO SAVE LIVES AND TO GET PEOPLE INTO RECOVERY.

24-YEAR-OLD RYAN DENNIS HAS STRUGGLED WITH OPIOID USE DISORDER FOR MANY YEARS.

IT EVENTUALLY CAUGHT UP WITH HIM, AND HE WAS SENT TO PRISON.

RYAN: I ENDED UP GETTING ARRESTED.

THE COPS CAME TO A HOTEL WITH A BENCH WARRANT FOR MY ARREST.

KIM: HE PARTICIPATED IN ONE OF THE PROGRAMS AND IS NOW IN ACTIVE RECOVERY.

RYAN: WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, MY DAD LEFT ME.

WE REUNITED AROUND 18 YEARS OLD, WHEN I WAS 18.

WE HAD A LOT OF LOST TIME, AND WE DID DRUGS TOGETHER.

I THINK WE WERE TRYING TO MAKE UP FOR THAT LOST TIME, BUT IN THE WRONG WAY.

I WAS USING PERCOCET, KLONOPIN, ANYTHING -- ANY PRESCRIPTION PILL.

KIM: HOW ARE YOU GETTING THEM?

RYAN: OFF THE STREETS.

SCROUNGED FROM FAMILY MEMBERS WHICH IS SAD.

THEY DO NOT WANT TO SEE YOU SICK.

KIM: BECAUSE OF ADDICTION, RYAN BEGAN STEALING FROM FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND BEYOND.

RYAN: ALL OF THE JAIL WAS PRETTY MUCH FOR STEALING.

I WAS GOING TO GROCERY STORES.

MISDEMEANORS, NOT FELONIES.

THEY WERE ALL DRUG RELATED.

IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE FACT THAT I WAS ON DRUGS, I WOULD NOT NORMALLY DO THAT.

BUT BECAUSE I WAS INTOXICATED, THAT GOT IN THE WAY OF CERTAIN THINGS.

IS THIS REALLY GOING TO BE MY -- MY LIFE?

WITHOUT THE PROGRAM, I MIGHT STILL BE IN IT.

BECAUSE I HAD THE RESOURCES, PEOPLE I COULD TALK TO -- I AM .4 YEARS OLD.

I DON'T WANT TO KEEP GOING THE REST OF MY LIFE.

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IT HAS HAPPENED.

WHEN AM I GOING TO FINALLY CALL IT QUITS, YOU KNOW?

THIS TIME, BECAUSE THE PROGRAM WAS THERE, IT WAS A BIG HELP.

KIM: THE PROGRAM RYAN IS TALKING ABOUT IS THE MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT PROGRAM THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED IN RHODE ISLAND'S PRISON SYSTEM IN 2016.

THE PROGRAM IS GROUNDBREAKING.

THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE COUNTRY TO PROVIDE ALL THREE FDA APPROVED MEDICATIONS -- SUBOXONE, THE PATROL, AND METHADONE -- VIVITROL, AND MATTHEW AN -- SUBOXONE,VIVITROL, AND METHADONE.

MOST ADDICTS HAD BEEN INCARCERATED IN THE 12 MONTHS LEADING UP TO THEIR DEATH.

DR. JENNIFER CLARK IS THE MEDICAL PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, AND SHE SAID SHE WANTED TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM FOR YEARS, IT COULD NOT GET THE NECESSARY SUPPORT.

THAT CHANGED UNDER THE REMINDER WOULD MINISTRATION.

JENNIFER: FUNDS WERE ABOUT $2 MILLION FROM THE GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE.

I THINK GOVERNOR RAIMONDO, YOU HAVE TO GIVE HER A LOT OF CREDIT.

NOT EVERY GOVERNOR WOULD BE WILLING TO TAKE A RISK LIKE THIS.

BUT SHE REALLY SAW OVERDOSE DEATHS AS A TRAGEDY WHERE THERE ARE SOLUTIONS, AND REALLY DEDICATED HERSELF TO FINDING THE SOLUTIONS AND PUTTING THE INVESTMENT BEHIND THOSE, REALLY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

BECAUSE OF THE TREATMENT ACROSS OUR SYSTEM, I CAN ANNOUNCE THAT OVERDOSE DEATHS FOR RECENTLY RELEASED INMATES DECREASED BY 61% SINCE WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM.

pKIM: YOU ARE SETTING PRECEDENCE HERE.

-- PRECEDENTS HERE.

HOW DIFFICULT WAS THAT?

JENNIFER: WE TOOK IT PIECE BY PIECE.

WE DECIDED WE WANTED TO MAKE IT A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM.

WANTED TO TOUCH THREE POPULATIONS -- PEOPLE THAT WERE COMING IN ON M.A.T.

THAT IN THE PAST HAD BEEN TAKEN OFF.

FIRST OF ALL, WE STOPPED TAKING PEOPLE OFF OF TREATMENT, AND WE CONTINUED THEM THEIR TREATMENT.

THE SECOND POPULATION WAS PEOPLE COMING IN WHO WERE WITHDRAWING.

AND BEFORE, WE WOULD JUST GIVE THEM TREATMENT FOR THEIR SYMPTOMS.

BUT WE CHANGED AND WE PROVIDED M.A.T.

TO PEOPLE COMING IN AND FEELING ILL. KIM: THE THIRD POPULATION DR. CLARK AND HER TEAM TARGETED WERE INMATES PREPARING TO BE RELEASED INTO THE COMMUNITY.

CLARK SAYS THEY ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE.

JENNIFER: THE REASON IT IS IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE IT TO THAT POPULATION IS WE KNOW THAT POPULATION IS THE MOST LIKELY TO DIE FROM OVERDOSE.

THEIR TOLERANCE HAS GONE WAY DOWN.

IF THEY USE THE SAME AMOUNT THEY WERE USING BEFORE THEY CAME TO PRISON, THEY WILL EASILY OVERDOSE AND COULD DIE.

KIM: WHY IS IT THEY NEED M.A .T.S AT THAT TIME, IF THEY HAVE NOT BEEN USING AND ALL?

JENNIFER: THE BRAIN HAS BASICALLY REMODELED.

EVEN IF SOMEBODY IS AWAY FROM THE DRUG, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT ALL THE CHANGES IN THE BRAIN GO BACK TO NORMAL.

WHEN SOMEBODY GETS OUT AND THERE ARE TRIGGERS, THEY ARE GOING BACK TO THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD.

THEY ARE SEEING THE SAME PEOPLE.

THEY WILL STILL HAVE THOSE CRAVINGS.

KIM: WITH MONEY IN HAND, CLARK WAS ABLE TO BRING KODAK BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TO SET UP MEDICATION DISPENSING PROTOCOLS WITHIN THE PRISON.

KODAK IS THE LARGEST NONPROFIT OUTPATIENT TREATMENT FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER IN THE STATE.

THE PACKAGE EACH MEDICATION IN A HIGHLY SECURED AREA OF THE PRISON.

THOSE INMATES PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM ARE TAKEN TO THIS ROOM TO RECEIVE THEIR MEDICATION.

BECAUSE CLARK IS SETTING THE STANDARD, SHE IS ALWAYS LOOKING TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS.

JENNIFER: WE ARE LOOKING TOWARD GIVING THEM MORE IN THE MORNING THAN THE EVENING.

FOR PEOPLE WHO TAKE IT AT NIGHT, IT TENDS TO MAKE IT EQUAL UP.

OFTEN, PEOPLE THINK IT IS IN OPIOD, SO IT SHOULD MAKE THEM TIRED, AND IT DOES NOT, BECAUSE IT IS BEING USED AS A TREATMENT.

IT IS NOT BEING USED ILLICITLY.

HAVING THAT TREATMENT IN THE MORNING HELPS PEOPLE SO THEY SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT, AND THEY FEEL BETTER.

THEY CAN BE MORE ENGAGED IN OTHER PARTS OF THEIR TREATMENT.

JUST GROUPS INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING.

KIM: APPROXIMATELY 2100 INMATES HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM SINCE IT BEGAN IN 2016.

THAT ALSO INCLUDES COUNSELING AND GROUP THERAPY SESSIONS.

AND WHEN AN INMATE WALKS UT THAT DOOR, TREATMENT DOES NOT END.

DISCHARGE PLANNERS AT KODAK CAREFULLY CORDON IT MEDICATION SCHEDULES AND COUNSELING, SO RECOVERY CAN CONTINUE WITHOUT INTERRUPTION.

THE STAFF HELPS WITH HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE AND TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM ONE OF ITS SVEN LOCATIONS, SO PATIENTS CAN RECEIVE TREATMENT.

THEY ALSO HELP WITH HOUSING, AND EVEN JOBS.

RYAN HAS BEEN OUT OF PRISON SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2018, AND IS NOW EMPLOYED AT A LOCAL HOTEL.

RYAN: IT CHANGED MY LIFE.

THREE YEARS NOW, THREE OR FOUR YEARS.

IN AND OUT, THOUGH.

THIS TIME, IT IS DIFFERENT.

WITHOUT THAT, I WOULD NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT.

IT IS DEFINITELY GOOD TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE AND TRY TO FIND A PROGRAM, IF THAT IS WHAT YOU NEED, OR JUST A COUNSELOR, SOMEONE TO TALK WITH.

IT FEELS GREAT.

IT REALLY DOES.

NOW I KNOW I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT MYSELF.

AND WITHOUT SPENDING IT ON DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, I MIGHT BE ABLE TO SAVE IT.

KIM: THERE ARE A FEW PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY THAT PROVIDE ONE DRUG OR ANOTHER, BUT IT IS NOT OFFERED TO THE ENTIRE POPULATION.

THE ACI IS THE ONLY PROGRAM THAT MAKES AVAILABLE THE FULL SUITE OF M.A.T.

TO EVERY INDIVIDUAL IN NEED COMING INTO OR LEAVING THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

I YEAR INTO THE PROGRAM, DARK -- DR. CLARK HAD ENOUGH DATA TO PROVE THEY WERE ONTO SOMETHING.

IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2016, PRIOR TO THE M.A.T.

PROGRAM, 26 PEOPLE DIED OF AN OVERDOSE WHO HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED.

DURING THAT SAME TIME IN 2017, WITH THE PROGRAM IN PLACE, ONLY NINE OF THE OVERALL DEATHS WERE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD BEEN IN THE ACI.

THAT'S A RELATIVE RISK REDUCTION OF ABOUT 60%.

JENNIFER: IT IS QUITE SIGNIFICANT THAT THE OVERALL STATE DECREASE IN MORTALITY IS PROBABLY DRIVEN MOSTLY BY THE INCARCERATED POPULATION GETTING TREATMENT AND GOING OUT AND BEING SAFER, BEING HEALTHIER.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT NOT TO PROVIDE M.A.T.

WITH THE RESULTS WE HAVE HAD AND THE MORTALITY RATES THERE ARE IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS REALLY -- IT'S A SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITION, VERY HIGH MORTALITY.

WE HAVE GOT A TREATMENT THAT WORKS.

WE HAVE GOT THREE TREATMENTS THAT WORK.

WE REALLY HAVE TO STOP JUDGING PEOPLE AND JUST PROVIDE TREATMENT.

THE STIGMA, THE JUDGMENT -- IT DOES NOT HELP.

IT DOES NOT HELP ANYONE RECOVER.

WHAT HELPS PEOPLE RECOVER HIS MEDICATION, SUPPORT, COUNSELING, BEHAVIORAL THERAPY.

THOSE THINGS HELP PEOPLE RECOVER.

KIM: ONE PERSON WHO UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF THERAPY AND COUNSELING IN THE RECOVERY PROCESS IS MICHELLE TAYLOR.

SHE IS THE DIRECTOR OF OUTPATIENT HIV AND REENTRY SERVICES AT COMMUNITY CARE ALLIANCE.

MICHELLE: ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE FINDING OUT AS WE ARE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT THESE NEW OPIOID CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THIS ADDICTION, PEOPLE DO NEED A LOT MORE SUPPORT.

RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT, INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT -- THESE ARE ALL LEVELS OF CARE THAT CLIENTS WILL OFTEN HAVE TO WORK THROUGH.

BEFORE THEY ARE ABLE TO SUSTAIN A PERIOD OF RECOVERY AND AN OUTPATIENT LEVEL OF CARE.

KIM: TAYLOR SAYS THAT AS A WHOLE, THE STATE IS MAKING STRIDES IN COMBATING THIS DISEASE, BUT THERE ARE STILL MANY GAPS.

SHE RECALLS A CLIENT WHO ALMOST FELL VICTIM TO ONE OF THOSE GAPS.

SHELL: WHAT HAPPENED IS SHE HAD ACTUALLY RUN INTO ONE OF HER CASE MANAGERS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT CONTACT WAS ENOUGH TO BRING HER BACK IN.

SHE HAD RELAPSED.

SHE WAS PROSTITUTING TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR HER DRUGS.

AND SHE SAID, I'M READY.

WE CALLED TO SEE IF WE COULD GET HER INTO A DETOX FACILITY THAT DAY, AND THERE WAS NO BED AVAILABLE.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO GET HER A BED FOR THE FOLLOWING DAY, BUT ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE NEEDED TO HAVE WAS TO HAVE SOME HEROIN AT HOME.

THE ANSWER WAS, YES, I DO.

WE HAD TO TALK ABOUT, ARE YOU GOING TO USE IT?

YES, I PROBABLY WILL.

IMMEDIATELY, TAYLOR WENT INTO WHAT CLINICIANS CALL HARM REDUCTION MODE.

SHE MADE HER -- SHE MADE SURE HER CLIENT HAD A PRESCRIPTION FOR NALOXONE AND SOMEONE WOULD BE WITH HER THAT NIGHT WHO COULD ADMINISTER THE DRUG IF NECESSARY.

MICHELLE: THE STORY HAS A GOOD ENDING.

SHE DID SHOW UP THE NEXT DAY.

FREQUENTLY, THEY USE AND THEY ARE LOST AGAIN.

KIM: DR. MCDONALD IS PART OF THE TASK FORCE.

WE ASKED HIM WHAT HE THOUGHT OF THAT STORY.

YOU THINK THE LACK OF BEDS AND TREATMENT CENTERS IS A PROBLEM?

JAMES: THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL BREAKDOWNS, BUT THE PHYSICIANS I AM TALKING TO AT KENT, LIFESPAN, AND BUTLER -- I KNOW THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IS ACROSS THE STATE.

KODAK, CAN ONE -- KENOWA, ARE LOOKING FOR PATIENTS.

BUT HUMANS ARE INTERACTING WITH HUMANS.

SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS.

I HAVE A FEELING THERE ARE PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE LISTENING TO ME WHO SAID, WE WOULD HAVE SEEN THAT PATIENT THAT DAY OR THE NEXT DAY.

WE WOULD HAVE FOUND A WAY.

I THINK THE PSYCHOLOGIST HAD SOME OPTIONS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SAFER FOR THE PATIENT.

WE CAN'T EVER ENCOURAGE ANYONE TO USE THEIR HEROIN.

>> PEOPLE CAN BE VERY WELL INTENDED, BUT IF WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE REALITY OF WHAT IS GOING ON WITH OUR CLIENTS, IF WE DON'T SEE THEM IN THE DAY TODAY, WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS THAT REALLY WORK.

SO BREAKING DOWN THOSE BARRIERS AND HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.

IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN A POSITION OF CREATING POLICY, AND THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE REALITY OF THE LIVES OF THE CLIENTS THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH IN THE REALITY OF THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING, WE ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THIS CRISIS.

KIM: TAYLOR ALSO BELIEVES THERE IS ONE BARRIER THAT LOOMS LARGE IN COMBATING THE OPIOID CRISIS, AND THAT IS STIGMA NOT ONLY IN SOCIETY, BUT IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM ITSELF.

MICHELLE: WE NEED TO CHANGE THE WAY WE VIEW ADDICTION.

AS LONG AS WE SEE IT AS A CHARACTER FLAW, AS LONG AS WE SEE IT AS A FAILURE OF WILL, WE ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.

BECAUSE THE CENTERS FOR EXCELLENCE ARE SO TIGHTLY BOUND TO THE IDEA OF MEDICATION IS A TREATMENT BECAUSE IT WORKS, WE THINK THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR, THAT STIGMA AROUND M.A.T., THAT IF YOU ARE ON IT, YOU ARE STILL NOT CLEAN.

AND THE WORD IS "DIRTY.

THEY USE THE WORD "DIRTY.

WE ARE TRYING TO GET RID OF THAT LANGUAGE.

HE WOULD NOT TELL SOMEBODY WITH DIABETES OR COPD NOT TO TAKE THEIR MEDICATION BECAUSE THEY SHOULD JUST WORK HARDER AT IT.

SO WE SHOULD NOT BE DOING THAT WITH ADDICTION RIGHT NOW.

KIM: BRANDON MARSHALL, OF THE GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE, AGREES.

BRANDON: WE KNOW THAT ENFORCING COLD TURKEY, ABSTINENCE-BASED APPROACHES CAN FAIL FOR MANY PEOPLE.

M.A.T.

IS A GOLD STANDARD TREATMENT, AND IT WORKS.

STUDIES AROUND THE WORLD SHOWN THAT.

PEOPLE REGAIN FUNCTIONING.

THEY GET THEIR NORMAL LIVES BACK.

THEY CAN GO BACK TO WORK.

THEY CAN REENGAGE WITH FAMILY.

KIM: THE LIST OF EXPERTS WHO BELIEVE THAT STIGMA IS IMPORTANT TO OVERCOMING THE PROBLEM IS LONG.

ONE WAS RECENTLY HIRED TO LEAD THE OPIOID RESPONSE, AND SERVES AS A SENIOR ADVISOR.

>> PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO ADMIT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM, MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE NEGATIVE PUBLIC ATTITUDES THAT EXIST AROUND ADDICTION AND RECOVERY.

WE ARE SEEING SOME OF THAT CHANGE, BUT WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO AS A SOCIETY.

WE REALLY MORALIZE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ADDICTIVE DISORDERS.

WE NEED TO TREAT ADDICTION LIKE ANY OTHER DISEASE.

WE NEED TO TREAT THIS WITH A PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE, NOT A CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSE.

KIM: HE UNDERSTANDS THAT STIGMA BECAUSE HE ONCE LOST EVERYTHING TO ADDICTION -- HIS FAMILY, HIS FRIENDS, HIS JOB, AND HIS SEAT IN THE RHODE ISLAND SENATE.

>> PEOPLE DON'T REALIZETHE POWER OF THEIR SUBSTANCES, AND I DID NOT REALIZE THE POWER OF THOSE SUBSTANCES AT THE TIME.

I BECAME ADDICTED AND MY LIFE STARTED THIS DOWNWARD SPIRAL.

I DID NOT KNOW IT AT THE TIME BECAUSE AS YOU MENTIONED I WAS AN ELECTED MEMBER OF THE STATE CENTER -- STATE SENATE AT 25.

I THOUGHT I WAS INVINCIBLE.

KIM: HE SOON REALIZED THAT INVINCIBILITY WAS AN ILLUSION.

IN 2003, FOLLOWING AN ARREST DUE TO ADDICTION, HE WAS FACED WITH A DECISION -- GO TO JAIL OR GET HELP.

HE CHOSE TREATMENT, AND THIS TIME WAS SUCCESSFUL, AND HAS BEEN IN LONG-TERM RECOVERY FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

HE EVENTUALLY MADE HIS WAY BACK UP THE STEPS TO THE STATEHOUSE AND INTO RHODE ISLAND POLITICS, SOMETHING HE NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE.

>> WHAT I FOUND WHEN I SHOWED BACK UP HERE, TO MY SURPRISE AND TO MY DELIGHT, WAS THE OPPOSITE HAPPENED.

MY FORMER COLLEAGUES RAN TO GIVE ME GREAT BIG HUGS, AND WELCOMED ME BACK, AND TOLD ME HOW GOOD I LOOKED AND HOW GOOD I WAS DOING, AND HOW PROUD THEY WERE OF ME.

THOSE FEARS I HAD WERE SHATTERED IMMEDIATELY WHEN THAT HAPPENED.

IT WAS AMAZING.

KIM: NOT ONLY HAS HE RETURNED POLITICS LOCALLY, SERVING AS CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT, HE ALSO WORKED FOR THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AS SENIOR ADVISOR FOR THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, BETTER KNOWN AS SAMSA.

IN RHODE ISLAND, HE CONTINUES TO WORK DILIGENTLY TO FIND SOLUTIONS.

ONE IDEA THAT CAME OUT OF THE TASK FORCE IS THE SAFE STATIONS PROJECT.

>> EVERY FIRE STATION IN PROVIDENCE IS NOW A PLACE WHERE SOMEBODY CAN VISIT IF THEY ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH ADDICTION, AND WITHIN 15 MINUTES, THEY WILL HAVE THEIR VITALS CHECKED.

IT WILL MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT IN ANY IMMEDIATE DANGER.

AND THEN THEY ARE CONNECTED WITH A RECOVERY COACH CAN HELP THEM NAVIGATE WHAT SOMETIMES IS A CUMBERSOME SYSTEM THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THE REGULAR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, AND HELP THEM NAVIGATE SO THEY CAN GET INTO THE RIGHT LEVEL, GET A DIAGNOSIS OF WHAT LEVEL OF CARE THEY NEED, AND GET INTO THAT LEVEL OF CARE IMMEDIATELY.

KIM: WE SPOKE TO THE ACTING EMS CHIEF FOR THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE FIRE DEPARTMENT, ZACHARY KENYON, WHO MODELED THE PROGRAM AFTER A SIMILAR ONE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

THAT PROGRAM HAD OVER 5000 PEOPLE COME TO THE STATION SEEKING HELP, AND KENYON HOPES THAT OVER TIME, PROVIDENCE WILL HAVE SIMILAR RESULTS.

ZACHARY: IF YOU LIVE IN ONE SOCKET -- ONE SOCKET -- IN WOONSOCKET OR FALL RIVER, COME TO US.

IT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE.

YOU WALK IT OUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, WE ARE HELPING 1600, 1700, MAYBE MORE, CHANGE THEIR LIVES.

THAT IS REALLY WHAT WE WANT.

WE JUST WANT THE ABILITY TO CONNECT IT WITH SOMEONE WHO WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND PUT YOU ON A DIFFERENT PATH.

KIM: KENYON IS A 16 YEAR EMS VETERAN AND HAS ADMINISTERED NALOXONE HUNDREDS OF TIMES.

IT IS BECAUSE OF THOSE EXPERIENCES THAT HE KNEW SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE.

ZACHARY: YOU TRY TO GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO CHANGE THEIR HABITS ARE THEY ARE GOING TO DIE.

YOU CAN TELL THEM THAT STRAIGHT OUT, AND LESS THAN 24 HOURS, YOU ARE DOING THE SAME THING WITH THE SAME PERSON.

THAT IS MENTALLY TOUGH ON PEOPLE WHO RESPOND TO THOSE.

IT IS HARD TO DO THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

YOU FEEL A FRUSTRATION NOT ONLY FOR -- I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY A SYSTEM.

YOU FEEL FRUSTRATION FOR THAT PERSON.

FIREFIGHTERS ARE DESIGNED TO HELP, YOU KNOW?

YOU ALMOST FEEL LIKE, I HAVE SAVED THIS PERSON LIFE, DID I REALLY HELP THEM?

KIM: KENYON SAYS WHILE THERE ARE MANY TIMES HE BELIEVES THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED, THERE ARE GLIMMERS OF HOPE.

ZACHARY: I HAVE SEEN IT WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE I HAVE PICKED UP ON A REGULAR BASIS, WITH OTHER ISSUES.

THEY COME UP TO ME OUT OF THE BLUE AND SAY, HEY, GUESS WHAT?

I JUST GOT MY FIRST APARTMENT.

THIS IS A GENTLEMAN THAT IS 40 SOMETHING YEARS OLD WHO HAD AN ALCOHOL ISSUE.

CAME UP TO ME.

HE WAS NOW VOLUNTEERING AT ONE OF THE HOMELESS SHELTERS, TO BRING OTHER PEOPLE.

HE SAID, CAP, I WANT TO TELL YOU I GOT MY FIRST APARTMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE.

I PAID MY OWN RENT.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

KIM: THAT'S PRETTY BIG.

ZACHARY, YEAH.

KIM: GREAT TO KNOW THAT YOU DID THAT.

ZACHARY: YEAH.

KIM: THE COLLABORATION AND HARD WORK MIGHT BE PAYING OFF.

IN 2017, FOLLOWING YEARS OF STEADY INCREASES, ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE DEATHS IN RHODE ISLAND DECLINED.

THERE WERE 323 DEATHS LAST YEAR, DOWN FROM 336 IN 2017, IT IS ABOUT A 4% DECREASE.

WHILE THOSE NUMBERS ARE ENCOURAGING, MORE WORK STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE.

THERE ARE TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION BEING CONSIDERED THIS YEAR THAT MANY HOPE WILL KEEP THE BALL ROLLING.

ONE OF THEM ADDRESSES THE SOARING NUMBER OF DEATHS DUE TO FENTANYL.

>> IT IS BEING USED IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN SPREAD WIDE ENOUGH TO HAVE AN IMPACT.

KIM: THE OTHER LEGISLATION IS MORE CONTROVERSIAL -- INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT FOR 72 HOURS.

BUT THERE ARE LEGAL BARRIERS TO THAT.

MILLER SAYS THEY ARE TRYING TO INCORPORATE REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE MET BEFORE COMMITTING SOMEONE, SUCH AS A PERSON'S HISTORY OF OVERDOSE AND THE NUMBER OF SAVES BY NARCAN.

GRAND MARSHAL, A MEMBER OF THE TASK FORCE, IS NOT SOLD ON THE IDEA.

BRANDON: I'M NOT CONVINCED THE HOLD BY ITSELF IS LIKE THAT TO BE EFFECTIVE.

MAYBE IN RARE CIRCUMSTANCES.

WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ATTENTION ON IS THE HANDOFF, THE REFERRAL PROCESS FROM HOSPITAL BACK INTO COMMUNITY.

I THINK THAT IS WHERE WE ARE LIKELY TO SEE A BIGGER IMPACT.

KIM: I'M BACK TO THE LIFE-SAVING DRUG NARCAN.

THIS IDEA IS LIKE THE DEFIBRILLATOR BOXES YOU SEE IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

THE BOX PROVIDES A LAYPERSON ACCESS TO THE DRUG IN A PUBLIC SETTING.

A PEDIATRICIAN AT RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL HELPED CREATE THE NALOX BOX THANKS TO A MINI GRANT FROM THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

AS OF APRIL 2018, THERE WERE 47 BOXES PLACED AROUND THE STATE, AND REQUESTS FOR ANOTHER 48, INCLUDING ORDERS FROM OTHER STATES.

>> BUSINESSES START COMING ON BOARD, OR MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS.

IT'S A STATEMENT THAT WE CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, CARE ABOUT THE EPIDEMIC.

HOPEFULLY, THIS WILL NEVER HAVE TO BE USED.

IF IT IS, WE MIGHT HAVE SAVED SOMEBODY.

KIM: SAVING LIVES AND GETTING PEOPLE INTO RECOVERY ARE THE GOALS OF THOSE WORKING TO COMBAT THIS EPIDEMIC, BUT NARCAN ALONE IS NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

ACCESS TO CARE IS KEY, MANY TIMES THE COST IS A BARRIER.

IN AN ENCOURAGING SIGN OF THE TIMES, BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF RHODE ISLAND RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT IN 2019, COPAYMENTS FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER OFFICE VISITS WILL BE ON PAR WITH PRIMARY CARE OFFICE VISITS, AND WILL NO LONGER REQUIRE PRIVATE OR -- PRIOR APPROVAL FOR ANY IN NETWORK SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

IN THE END, IT COMES DOWN TO DETERMINE COMMUNITIES COMING TOGETHER TO FIND SOLUTIONS THAT CAN PROVIDE HOPE AND OPTIMISM TO THOSE WHO STRUGGLE WITH OPIOID USE DISORDER.

RYAN: I'M HERE, AND I HAVE A REASON TO WAKE UP EVERY DAY.

I ACTUALLY COMMIT MYSELF TO SOMETHING.

KIM: I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE IT.

MAUREEN: UNFORTUNATELY, IT HAS TAKEN LIVES TO BRING THIS TO THE SURFACE.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE.

>> THIS EFFECT EVERYBODY.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WATCH AND THINK ABOUT THE PERSON IN THEIR LIFE GOING THROUGH THIS RIGHT NOW.

I WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO KNOW THERE IS LIFE AFTER ADDICTION.

RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.

[HEAVY BREATHING] [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG] >> FOR ALMOST 80 YEARS, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF RHODE ISLAND HAS BEEN ABLE TO PROMOTE A HEALTHIER RHODE ISLAND.