THE PANDEMIC. THE SURGE IN OPIOID-RELATED DEATHS.
HERE’S MORGAN RADFORD.
>> Reporter: STUCK
INSIDE DURING THE
PANDEMIC, SABRINA HART
TURNED TO AN OLD
HABIT.
>> I GOT ME SOME
HEROIN.
I WENT INTO THE
BATHROOM, SNORTED IT.
>> Reporter: ONE THAT
NEARLY LEFT HER DEAD.
HOW DID THE PANDEMIC
AFFECT YOUR DRUG USE?
>> WELL, I WAS CLEAN
FOR FIVE YEARS.
I HADN’T TOUCHED
ANYTHING.
I SAT AT HOME EVERY
DAY.
I HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO
DO.
I THINK ALL THE STRESS
THAT WAS IN MY HEAD,
AND I JUST PICKED IT
BACK UP LIKE I HAD
NEVER LEFT IT.
>> Reporter: NEARLY
200 AMERICANS ARE
DYING EVERY SINGLE DAY
FROM OPIOID OVERDOSES,
AN INCREASE OF 34%
DURING THE PANDEMIC,
LEADING TO THE HIGHEST
ONE-YEAR DEATH TOLL
FROM OVERDOSES EVER
RECORDED.
HOW BIG DID THE
PROBLEM GET IN THE
PANDEMIC?
>> BETWEEN APRIL AND
MAY OF 2020, OUR
NUMBERS TRIPLED.
>> TRIPLED?
>> YES.
>> Reporter: HERE IN
WEST VIRGINIA, THE
STATE WITH THE HIGHEST
OVERDOSE DEATH RATE IN
THE COUNTRY, CHAPEL
COUNTY WAS ONCE THE
EPICENTER.
IS THIS WHAT PEOPLE
AROUND HERE ARE
HEARING ALL DAY?
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: THAT’S
WHY LOCAL OFFICIALS
BUILT QUICK RESPONSE
TEAMS LIKE THIS ONE,
COMPLETE WITH A POLICE
OFFICER, EMT,
TREATMENT COUNSELOR,
AND FAITH LEADER.
SO THIS IS THE QUICK
RESPONSE VEHICLE?
>> YEP.
>> Reporter: TO BRING
HELP WHERE IT’S NEEDED
MOST.
>> THEY’RE NOT GOING
TO COME TO US, RIGHT?
SO WE FOUND THAT IT’S
BEST TO GO TO THEM.
>> HOW DO YOU FIND THE
PEOPLE WHO OVERDOSE?
>> EVERY TIME AN
AMBULANCE IS
DISPATCHED ON A CALL,
WE HAVE TO GO --
>> TRACK MARKS THERE,
THERE.
THIS IS A TRACK MARK.
>> Reporter: FOR
COURTNEY, WHO JUST GOT
OUT OF PRISON IN
AUGUST FOR POSSESSION,
THE PANDEMIC BECAME A
PERFECT STORM.
>> COVID HIT, AND
EVERYTHING’S BEEN
DIFFERENT.
>> YOU THINK THAT
PLAYED A ROLE, THE
PANDEMIC?
>> YEAH.
CAN’T GO NOWHERE,
CAN’T DO ANYTHING.
I MEAN THAT’S WHEN
YOU’RE STUCK IN YOUR
HEAD.
WHEN YOU’RE BY
YOURSELF AND NOBODY’S
AROUND AND THINKING,
THINKING, THINKING,
YOU OBSESS.
>> Reporter: FOUR DAYS
BEFORE OUR INTERVIEW,
COURTNEY OVERDOSED
AGAIN.
>> YOU HAD AN O.D.
SATURDAY?
>> YEAH.
SATURDAY IF I WOULDN’T
HAVE JERKED WHEN I
DID, I’D BE DEAD.
>> Reporter: BUT
THANKS TO HUNTINGTON’S
QUICK RESPONSE TEAM --
>> HOW ARE YOU?
>> I’M FINE.
>> Reporter: SHE AND
OTHERS LIKE HER ARE
FINDING THEIR WAY
FORWARD.
DO YOU HAVE HOPE?