WE CONTINUE NOW WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES WITH J DANIEL PLUFF.

THE SERIES HIGHLIGHTS BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE DOING SOMETHING SPECIAL IN OUR AREA.

IN THIS SPOTLIGHT WITH J. DANIEL PLUFF WE TALK ABOUT THE FINANCIAL AND HUMAN COST OF FENTANYL• FENTANYL IS A SYNTHETIC OPIOID THAT IS UP TO 50 TIMES STRONGER THAN HEROIN AND 100 TIMES STRONGER THAN MORPHINE.

IT IS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO FATAL AND NONFATAL OVERDOSES IN THE U.S. 70% OF OVERDOSES ARE FENTANYL RELATED.

J. DANIEL PLUFF SITS DOWN WITH MARIAH SENECAL-REILLY, DIRECTOR OF OUR SUBSTANCE USE INITIATIVE, AND DR. TOLANI AJAGBE AT CROUSE CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY TREATMENT SERVICES, TO TALK ABOUT THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF FENTANYL ABUSE ON THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.

WE ALSO SPEAK ONE ON ONE WITH JAMES ROBINSON, A FATHER WHO SHARES THE STORY OF HIS DAUGHTER NICHOLE, WHO SADLY PASSED AWAY FROM FENTANYL OVERDOSE, AND THE COST TO HIS FAMILY.

>> NICOLE WAS MY DAUGHTER.

I AFFECTIONATELY CALLED HER BABY GIRL.

BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL, BEAUTIFUL PERSON.

SHE PLAYED WITH DOLLS, JUST A GIRLY GIRL.

SHE DIDN'T PLAY SPORTS, WHICH I TRIED, YOU KNOW, TO KEEP HER BUSY AT ONE TIME.

SHE LIKED TO CHEER LEAD.

SHE WAS A CHEER LEADER WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG.

DID THE COMPETITIONS, BUT JUST A NORMAL LITTLE GIRL.

THE DRUGS STARTED RIGHT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.

SHE STARTED TO EXPERIMENT, YOU KNOW, WITH DIFFERENT DRUGS.

THE FIRST DRUG THAT SHE TRIED WAS MARIJUANA AND THEN SHE WENT INTO A DRUG THAT THEY DIP A CIGARETTE INTO ENBALMING FLUID ACTUALLY AND THAT'S WHERE IT ALL STARTED.

I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW BAD IT WAS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT'S, YOU KNOW, YOUTH, WE EXPERIMENT WITH DIFFERENT THINGS.

BUT YOU COULD TELL PRETTY QUICKLY IT WAS GETTING WORSE THAN WE WANTED IT TO.

YOU DON'T WANT KIDS TO DO DRUGS AT ALL BUT THEY EXPERIMENT AND DO DIFFERENT THINGS.

BABY GIRL HAD SOME CHILDREN, FOUR CHILDREN, ACTUALLY.

THERE WERE SOME TIMES THAT SHE COULD GO FOR A LONG TIME WITHOUT IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE WAS PREGNANT WITH THE CHILDREN.

WE TRIED A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS I LIKE TO SAY AND I WILL SAY THAT DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ARE FAMILY DISEASE, YOU KNOW.

I TOTALLY BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE I MYSELF STRUGGLED WITH ALCOHOLISM.

I GOT INTO A PROGRAM AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO BE SOBER OR IN RECOVERY FOR A WHILE.

BABY GIRL TRIED AND I KNOW SHE TRIED.

SHE WOULD HAVE THE CHILDREN FOR A WHILE WHEN SHE WAS DOING WELL.

AND THEN IT GOT PRETTY BAD AND THE CHILDREN WERE TAKEN FROM HER BECAUSE OF AN EPISODE THAT SHE HAD WHERE SHE HAD TO BE REVIVED WITH NARCAN.

AND SO THAT'S WHEN SHE LOST THE CHILDREN.

AND WE THOUGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, THINGS WOULD GET BETTER BECAUSE SHE WOULD BE FIGHTING TO GET THOSE CHILDREN AND SHE WANTED TO GET BETTER.

I KNOW SHE WANTED HER CHILDREN.

SHE JUST COULDN'T, WOULDN'T LET IT GO.

NICOLE WENT TO A FEW PROGRAMS AND ONE OF THE PROGRAMS SHE MET ONE OF HER COUSINS.

AND THE COUSIN, WHO SHE HAD JUST MET AND THEY BECAME, YOU KNOW, THEY STAYED IN TOUCH A LITTLE BIT ANYWAY.

AND THAT COUSIN ACTUALLY DIED OF FENTANYL INTOXICATION.

I TOLD BABY GIRL ABOUT THAT AND I REALLY THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD SHAKE HER UP.

IT DIDN'T.

SHE DID GO TO A FACILITY, WHICH I REALLY THINK HELPED HER.

IT WAS CALLED HOVING HOME.

SHE DID REALLY GOOD THERE.

THE BEST I HAD EVER SEEN HER.

WE TRAVELED THERE AND TOOK THE CHILDREN THERE AND SHE SEEMED TO DO VERY WELL.

WHEN HER TIME WAS OVER THERE, SHE DID LEAVE THERE AND SHE WENT TO GEORGIA TO STAY WITH HER BROTHER WHO TRIED TO HELP HER AND HIS WIFE.

WITH THE CHILDREN.

AND THINGS WENT WELL FOR A FEW WEEKS AND THEN THINGS STARTED TO GO DOWNHILL.

SHE HAD SOME BAD TIMES THERE.

YOU KNOW, IT JUST GOT HER AGAIN.

SHE STARTED TO USE AGAIN.

WHEN I SAY USE, I MEAN SHE STARTED WITH THE DRINKING AND THEN FINALLY ENDED UP, YOU KNOW, DOING THE DRUGS THAT SHE REALLY WANTED TO DO.

SHE STAYED THERE FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF, TWO MONTHS AND SHE LEFT, SEEMING TO COME BACK TO SYRACUSE.

WE DIDN'T WANT HER TO COME BACK TO SYRACUSE.

SHE CAME BACK HERE AND IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG BEFORE SHE WAS, YOU KNOW, REALLY INTO IT REALLY HARD SHE WAS HOMELESS AND SHE JUST COULDN'T STOP.

THE LAST CONVERSATION I HAD WITH HER, I LOOKED AT HER AND SAID BABY GIRL, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO STOP THIS AND SHE STARTED TO CRY.

AND SHE SAID I CAN'T TALK ANYMORE.

THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I SAW HER.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT YOU TREAT FOR DIFFERENT ISSUES HERE.

YOU MENTIONED ALCOHOLISM AND ALL OF THAT.

IF WE TRY TO FOCUS A LITTLE MORE ON OPIOID FENTANYL IN PARTICULAR, CAN YOU TELL ME HOW AND WHY IS FENTANYL SO MUCH MORE POTENT, SO MUCH MORE DANGEROUS AND ADDICTIVE.

WHAT IS IN THAT THAT MAKES IT SO?

SO THIS FENTANYL, SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT FENTANYL, THE ASSUMPTION IS FENTANYL IS ADMINISTERED IN HOSPITAL, SOME FORM OF IT.

NO, IT'S NOT.

THERE ARE ANALOGUES OF THOSE TYPES OF FENTANYL.

THEY'RE STRUCTURALLY SIMILAR TO THE FENTANYL IN THE HOSPITAL.

THERE IS A CHEMICALS THAT WERE DEVELOPED MOST OF THE TIME OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY AND IMPORTED INTO THE COUNTRY.

>> CHEAPER TO PRODUCE?

>> CHEAPER TO PRODUCE, CHEAPER TO DISTRIBUTE AND CHEAPER TO USE AND MORE DEADLY.

SO HEROIN IS WHAT WEEM WERE USING ON THE STREET UNTIL A FEW YEARS AGO.

HEROIN IS TWICE AS POWERFUL AS MORPHINE.

THE FENTANYL YOU SEE IN HOSPITALS LIKE 100 TIMES MORE POWERFUL THAN MORPHINE.

SOME OF THE FLAL ON THE STREET, -- SOME OF THE FENTANYL ON THE STREET IS 10,000 TIMES MORE POWERFUL, CAR FENTANYL.

IT IS AN ANIMAL TRANQUILIZER NEVER MEANT TO BE USED BY HUMANS.

>> THAT'S AN ISSUE I HAVE FOR YOU RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

IF I'M A DRUG DEALER, WHY WOULD I WANT TO PUT FENTANYL IN A PRODUCT THAT IS LIKELY TO KILL THE CONSUMER IN THIS CASE?

IT MAKES NO STONES ME.

>> IT DOESN'T.

HIVE I AM NOT TRYING TO MAKE IT MAKE SENSE BUT IN A DRUG DEALER'S MIND, THEY'RE TRYING TO SELL THE HOTTEST, AND THE MOST POTENT THING BECAUSE THEY KNOW DRUG USERS ARE SEEKING A BETTER EUPHORIA OUT OF THE PRODUCT.

THEY WANT MORE OUT OF THE PRODUCT THEY BUY.

WE ARE ALMOST TO A POINT WHERE ALMOST EVERYWHERE YOU CAN THINK OF, CAR FENTANYL IS MIXED INTO THE DRUG.

PATIENTS KNOW THEY'RE USING THAT KIND OF SUBSTANCE BUT THE DANGEROUS PART IS NOW THEY'VE DEVELOPED TOLERANCE TO IT.

SO IT'S NOT KILLING THEM AS MUCH AS IT USED TO KILL THEM.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA FOR FENTANYL THIS YEAR, FENTANYL OVERDOSE HAS GONE DOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2023 FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2018.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE GETTING MORE TOLERANT.

>> I WOULD BE WILLING TO GUESS THERE MIGHT BE AN UPTICK IN THOSE FIRST-TIME USERS THAT, BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW MA THEY'VE GOT-- WHAT THEY'VE GOT.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> A LOT OF SENSE.

THINK ABOUT IT.

THE FIRST TIME USER, MOST OF THE TIME DOESN'T REALIZE THEY HAVE A PROBLEM.

SO IF THEY DON'T DIE, THEY DON'T SEEK HELP.

SO MOST PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE SEEKING HELP ARE PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN RENDERED UNMANAGEABLE BECAUSE OF THE USE.

THEY HAVE BEEN USING FOR A WHILE.

SEEK CONSEQUENCES AND THEY NEED HELP.

>> HOW MUCH OF FENTANYL OR OPIOID IN GENERAL, HOW MUCH DO YOU NEED BEFORE IT TRIGGERS AN ADDICTION IN THE BODY?

>> IT DEPENDS ON THE INDIVIDUAL SO ADDICTION IS NOT-- THERE IS NO SPECIFIC METRICS TO MEASURE ADDICTION.

THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED DEPENDENCY ON A SUBSANS SUBSTANCE WHERE IF I STOP TAKING THIS SUBSTANCE I GO INTO BAD WITHDRAWAL.

I CANNOT FUNCTION WITHOUT TAKING THIS DRUG.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN ADDICTION.

ADDICTION IS ABOUT THE IMPACT.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND SO WHAT ABOUT THIS THOUGH.

I THINK AND WILL YOU HAVE TO HELP ME.

I DON'T HAVE A DEGREE IN CHEMISTRY.

AS I RECALL, THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED VIVITROL THAT IS USED FOR PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM ALCOHOLISM.

>> YES.

>> DON'T WE HAVE SOMETHING, SOME TYPE OF DRUG THAT WOULD DISCOURAGE SOMEONE WHO IS REALLY DEPENDENT UPON AN OPIOID TO GET OFF THAT DRUG?

>> ALL THOSE-- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW ABOUT THE THREE MEDICATIONS, METHADONE, BUPRENORPHINE AND VIVITROL.

THE FIRST TWO, BUPRENORPHINE AND SUBOXONE, VIVITROL DOES NOT HELP SOMEBODY TO STOP WITHDRAWAL.

VIVITROL MAKES YOU NOT WANT TO USE BECAUSE IT BLOCKS THE HIGH.

IT BLOCKS THE U EUPHORIA PEOPLE GET WHEN THEY USE ALCOHOL OR DRUGS.

THE OTHER TWO AS WELL, METHADONE AND BUPRENORPHINE, WHEN PEOPLE ARE STABLE ON THEM, STABLE DOSES, IT BLOCKS THE HIGH FROM STREET OPIOIDS WHICH DISCOURAGES THEM FROM USING SO ALL THREE OF THEM ARE THINGS THAT DISCOURAGE THEM FROM USING.

IF THEY BUY DRUGS AND DON'T GET HIGH FROM IT.

>> DO YOU FIND PATIENTS ARE RECEPTIVE TREATMENT THOUGH?

DO HAVE YOU TO DO ARM TWISTING HERE AND SAY HEY, DANNY, YOU NEED HELP.

HOW RECEPTIVE ARE THEY?

>> PATIENTS ARE VERY, VERY RECEPTIVE.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE PAST DECADE, WE HAVE MADE A TRANSITION FROM WHAT WE CALL PROGRAM CENTERED CARE, WHERE WE SET THE RULES AND SAY, YOU JUST FIT INTO OUR RULES AND THAT'S HOW WE CAN TREAT YOU.

ABSTINENCE IS THE ONLY GOAL.

NOW WE HAVE TRANSITIONED TO WHAT WE CALL PATIENT CENTERED CARE WHERE WE MEET THE PATIENTS WHERE THEY ARE WITH PARTNER WITH THE PATIENTS, UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY SET THE GOALS.

OUR JOB IS TO FACILITATE THEIR RECOVERY, NOT TO SEND THE GOAL OF THEIR RECOVERY.

AND WE SEE THEM MORE RESPONSIVE TO THAT.

>> INTERESTING.

>> BECAUSE NOW WE CAN EDUCATE THEM AND KEEP PARTNERING WITH THEM.

THEY TRUST US.

THEY WILL LISTEN TO US.

>> I WOULD THINK THEY WOULD HAVE TO KNOW-- WOULD I HATE TO BE IN THAT STATE OF MIND, TO BE THAT DEPENDENT ON SOMETHING.

>> NOBODY WANTS IT.

THAT'S THE MYTH ABOUT ADDICTION OUT THERE.

PEOPLE ASSUME THAT WHAT GETS PEOPLE IN ADDICTION IS WHAT KEEPS THEM THERE.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

>> YOU KNOW, I HEAR ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO GET ADDICTED TO OPIOIDS BECAUSE THE SEVERE BACK PAIN.

HOW MUCH OF THAT DO YOU SEE?

>> THREE QUARTERS, 70%.

70% OF OUR PATIENTS WHO DEVELOP OPIOID ADDICTION WAS STARTED WHILE LEGITIMATELY PRESCRIBED OPIATES FOR PAIN BUT TOM PROBLEM IS THAT SOMETIMES THEY DON'T KNOW THEY ALREADY HAVE SOME PREEXISTING RISK LIKE GENETICS.

IT RUNS IN MY FAMILY.

ALL I NEED IS TO BE EXPOSED AND THINGS GET OUT OF HAND.

YOU CAN PRESCRIBE OPIATES FOR PAIN FOR FIVE PEOPLE AND TWO OF THEM BECOME DEPENDENT.

THE OTHER THREE TAKE IT FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEY'RE DONE WITH IT.

PEOPLE GET PRESCRIBED OPIATES FOR TOOTHACHE AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

THEY TAKE IT FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEY'RE DONE.

SOME CANNOT STOP.

>> YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO RECEIVE THE PHONE CALL IF IT DOESN'T STOP.

WHAT NEVER PREPARES YOU, EVER PREPARES YOU FOR THAT PHONE CALL.

THE NIGHT THAT WE FOUND OUT THAT BABY GIRL HAD PASSED AWAY, I HAD A PHONE CALL FROM MY SON, REGINALD, AND HE CALLED ME AND HE SAID, DAD, HE SAID, SOMEONE JUST CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT NICOLE IS DEAD.

REGGIE WAS BESIDE HIMSELF AND, OF COURSE, I JUST SAT THERE AND JUST LOOKED AT THE PHONE.

I LOOKED AT HIM AND THE WHOLE HOUSE WAS BESIDE THEMSELVES.

EVERYONE WAS JUST SCREAMING AND I HAD TO COMPOSE MYSELF.

I HAD TO TRY TO REALLY UNDERSTAND AND TRY TO TAKE IN WHAT HE HAD JUST SAID.

I TOLD HIM WOULD I CALL HIM BACK BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE SHE WAS.

SO I WENT AND I TOLD MY WIFE.

SHE'S GONE, BABY GIRL IS GONE SHOW DROPPED TO HER KNEES.

SO WE HAD TO FIND HER.

WE CALLED HOSPITALS AND ANYBODY WE DO TO SEE IF THEY THIS A JANE DOUGH OR JANE DOE.

IF ANYBODY KNEW WHERE SHE WAS.

I WENT TO UNIVERSITY, I SAW A GUARD.

HE DIDN'T SAY SHE HAD PASSED AWAY.

HE CAME BACK WITH A NUMBER AND SAID CALL THE EXAMINER'S OFFICE.

WE GOT IN THE CAR AND WE CALLED.

THEY ASKED ME A FEW QUESTIONS.

THEY ASKED ME IF SHE, YOU KNOW, IF SHE HAD PIERCINGS OR TATTOOS AND WE TOLD THEM ABOUT THE TATTOOS AND SHE SAID WE HAVE HER.

AND WHEN YOU HEAR THAT, "WE HAVE HER" YOU KNOW, THEIR POSSESSION OF MY BABY GIRL AND REALIZE REALLY SHE WAS GONE...

I WANTED TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY FOUND HER AND WHAT HAPPENED I'LL NEVER FORGET THE DETECTIVE THAT I SPOKE WITH FOR THE SECOND ENTITLEMENT I HAD CALLED HIM AND I SAID TO HIM, I SAID, YOU KNOW, I'M SO SORRY I CONTINUE TO BOTHER YOU ABOUT THIS AND HE SAID Mr. ROBINSON, HE SAID, YOU ARE NOT BOTHERING ME.

YOU JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR LITTLE GIRL.

AND SO THEY TOLD ME THERE WERE PACKETS I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE DRUG WAS.

BUT SHE DIED OF FENTANYL INTOXICATION.

WE HAD TO LET HER CHILDREN KNOW.

NICOLE HAD FOUR CHILDREN.

A 14-YEAR-OLD, 11-YEAR-OLD, A 9 AND 6-YEAR-OLD.

AND THAT WAS THE WORST THING I HAD EVER DONE IN MY LIFE WAS TO TELL MY GRANDCHILDREN.

THAT THEIR MOTHER HAD PASSED.

AND THEY FELL TO THEIR KNEES.

WE TALKED TO THE CHILDREN.

WE HAD TALKED WITH THEM ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY WANTED, TO SEE THEIR MOTHER, AND THEY DECIDED THAT THAT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT THEY WANTED TO DO, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS A VERY MATURE DECISION TO MAKE.

THEY WANTED TO REMEMBER HER OF THE LIFE SHE DID HAVE THAT WASN'T FILLED WITH THE HURT AND PAIN OF ADDICTION.

>> YOU KNOW, I'M GUESSING THAT YOU SEE MORE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER DESCRIPTION, MORE REPEAT OFFENDERS, IS THAT THE CASE?

>> WE ENGAGE WITH FOLKS PURPOSEFULLY ON A REPEAT BASIS.

SO I DON'T THINK I CAN GAUGE THAT PERFECTLY.

WE-- THERE ARE A LOT OF REPEAT OVERDOSES.

THE TEAM DEFINITELY ENCOUNTERS.

>> BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY GETS ME IS, YOU KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN CERTAINLY MORE THAN ONE CASE AND I'M SURE YOU CAN CITE SEVERAL, WHERE SOMEBODY MAYBE EXPERIMENTED WITH A DRUG, TRIED SOMETHING AND IT'S LACED WITH FENTANYL AND THEY'RE DONE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU COMBAT THAT.

>> THAT IS MOST TRAGIC PART ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW IS A LOT OF THE FATALITIES THAT WE SEE ARE FOLKS WHO THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE USING SOMETHING ELSE AND IT CONTAINED FENTANYL.

>> YOU HEAR ONE PILL CAN KILL.

IT'S NOT JUST A RHYME.

IT IS TRUE.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE ENCOURAGE IS IF SOMEONE IS GOING TO USE SUBSTANCES THAT THEY TEST THEM.

WE GIVE OUT-- >> HOW DO YOU DO THAT REALISTICALLY?

THAT'S TOUGH TO DO, NO?

>> IT IS NOT.

WE GIVE OUT FENTANYL TESTING STRIPS FOR FREE.

YOU CAN ACCESS THEM TOTALLY CONFIDENTIALLY.

YOU NEED THE SIZE OF A PENNY AMOUNT OF SUBSTANCE, MIX IT IN WATER AND THEN YOU USE A LITTLE STRIP AND DIP IT IN.

YOU GET THE RESULTS WITHIN SEVERAL MINUTES.

>> DOES YOUR TEAM-- I HEAR THIS NARCAN, WHICH IS THE WONDER DRUG, RIGHT?

DOES YOUR TEAM ADMINISTER NARCAN OR TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO ADMINISTER NARCAN?

>> THEY DO ALL OF THE ABOVE.

THE TEAM HAS DONE REVERSALS WHO PEOPLE-- >> LET'S BACK UP.

THIS IS A DRUG THAT IS GIVEN TO SOMEONE WHO APPEARS TO HAVE HAD AN OVERDOSE, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> IT REVERSES WHATEVER FENTANYL CAUSES?

>> YEAH, SO THE WAY THAT IT WORKS IS IT'S AN OPIOID BLOCKER, ATTACHES TO THE RECEPTORS IN SOMEONE'S BRAIN AND ESSENTIALLY STOPS THE OPIOID FROM AFFECTING THE PERSON.

IT IS HARMLESS IF IT IS GIVEN TO SOMEBODY WHO HAS NOT EXPERIENCED AN OVERDOSE.

SO WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, IF SOMEONE, IF THEY SEE SOMEONE THEY SUSPECT IS AN OVERDOSE, DO IT.

>> GIVE IT A TRY.

>> YOU ARE GOING TO COUGH.

>> I HAVE READ, THOUGH, STUDIES OR REPORTS THAT INDICATE THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, FENTANYL IS SO MUCH MORE POWERFUL, RIGHT, SO MUCH MORE DANGEROUS, THAT IT TAKES EXTRA NARCAN OR EXTRA DOSES OR WHAT HAVE YOU, ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES OUT THERE THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT?

I READ ABOUT OBVI, OTHER ALTERNATIVE DRUGS OR PRODUCTS THAT MIGHT WORK?

>> SO FROM A HARM REDUCTION STANDPOINT, WE ENCOURAGE THAT YOU USE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF NALOXONE NEEDED JUST BECAUSE-- >> NALOXONE IS NARCAN?

>> YES.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU ADMINISTER NARCAN TO SOMEONE, IT PUTS THEM IN IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL, WHICH IS AN ABSOLUTELY AWFUL STATE TO BE IN.

IT PREVENTS PEOPLE FROM SEEKING ASSISTANCE IN SITUATIONS WHERE THEY MIGHT BE USING.

SO WE TRY TO HAVE PEOPLE USE THE LEAST AMOUNT NECESSARY.

SO YOU START-- OBVIOUSLY YOU START WITH THE ONE DOSE.

EVERY KIT WE GIVE OUT HAS TWO DOSES IN IT.

THAT GENERALLY IS ENOUGH.

>> I UNDERSTAND IT MARIAH, YOU DON'T ADMINISTER THE NARCAN BUT YOU TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO USE IT AND YOU PROVIDE THE NARCAN, CORRECT?

>> YES.

>> SO WE GIVE OUT MASS AMOUNTS OF NARCAN TO THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S FREE OF COST TO THEM.

>> WHO PAYS FOR IT?

IS IT COMING OUT OF YOUR POCKET?

>> IT ISN'T.

WE GET IT FOR FREE THROUGH NEW YORK STATE.

>> TRAISHES ARE NOT PAYING FOR THIS?

THIS IS COMING FROM THE STATE SO IT'S ULTIMATELY TAXPAYER MONEY BUT NOT LOCALLY.

>> NOT LOCALLY.

WE GET IT FOR FREE AND WE GIVE OUT QUITE A BIT AND WE HAVE LOCKERS IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN ACCESS IT WITHOUT INTERACTING WITH A HUMAN IF THEY'RE CONCERNED IN ANY WAY AROUND STIGMA.

>> HUGELY BEN IF ICIAL THAT THAT IS SO READILY AVAILABLE THEN, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> I'M NOT GOING TO, FOR A MINUTE, YOU KNOW, DIMINISH THE HUMAN ASPECT TO ALL OF THIS BUT I HAVE TO THINK ALSO THAT THIS HAS AN ECONOMIC HIT, RIGHT WE ARE SPENDING MONEY TO TREAT THESE FOLKS.

THESE FOLKS MAYBE ARE NOT AS PRODUCTIVE.

CAN YOU QUANTIFY THAT TO ANY DEGREE, THE ECONOMIC COST TO THE COUNTY BECAUSE OF... >> SO WE HAVE RECEIVED-- MY PROGRAM ITSELF, HAS RECEIVED LIKE $2.6 MILLION OVER THE LAST, FROM 2017, 2016 ON.

>> I CAN'T DO THE MATH QUICK BUT THAT'S NOT A LOT PER YEAR.

>> INITIALLY IT WAS NOT.

WE REALLY ACTIVELY STARTED PURSUING GRANT FUNDING IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND MUCH OF THE WORK THAT WE DO IS GRANT FUNDED AND NOW OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDED, WHICH NEITHER OF THOSE THINGS ARE LOCAL DOLLARS.

BUT, LIKE WHAT YOU SAID, THERE ARE ASTRONOMICAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATIONS, WITH SOMEONE PASSING AWAY, THE LOSS OF PRODUCTIVITY THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFESPAN.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO CRITICS WHO MIGHT SAY, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL OF THAT THAT YOU ARE DOING, YOU ARE NOT REALLY FIXING THE PROBLEM.

YOU ARE ENABLING THE PROBLEM.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT WE ARE KEEPING PEOPLE ALIVE.

AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOVER AND THEY CAN'T DO THAT IF THEY HAVE OVERDOSED.

>> I HATE TO END ON A NEGATIVE NOTE, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET AROUND THIS ANY OTHER WAY.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE NUMBERS ARE WORKING AGAINST US HERE.

AND MY QUESTION IS HOW DO WE FIX THIS?

IS THERE A SOLUTION?

>> AT A BASE LEVEL, THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE DOING AS A COMMUNITY ARE DEVELOPING RESILIENCE IN FIRST CHILDREN, SO THEY'RE ABLE TO SELF REGULATE WHEN THINGS HAPPEN.

IF WE BUILD THOSE IN PEOPLE FROM A YOUNG AGE, THOSE PEOPLE, WHEN THEY'RE AT AN AGE WHERE THEY MIGHT BE TRYING SOMETHING OR THEY ARE EXPERIENCING HARD THINGS LATER IN THEIR LIFE, THEY WILL HAVE THE ADEQUATE TOOLS.

>> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT-- NOT TO BE CLICHE ABOUT THIS, BUT PREVENT CAN IT WAY BEFORE IT OCCURS.

THAT'S YOUR SOLUTION, YOU THINK?

>> THAT'S THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION.

IN THE MEANTIME, OUR FOCUS IS, AS A PROGRAM, IS ON HARM REDUCTION AND WE THINK THAT IS THE ANSWER.

>> KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE WHO ARE USING IS ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING IT, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, AND ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS ABOUT THAT IS THAT YOU ARE SEEING SOMEONE WHO MAY HAVE NOT BEEN SEEN FOR SOMETIME.

THEY FEEL-- PEOPLE TELL US ALL THE TIME, I FELT LIKE I WAS INVISIBLE UNTIL I WAS TALKING TO YOU.

SO IT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE AND THAT CAN CHANGE SOMETHING IN THEM.

>> WHEN YOU LOSE A CHILD OR A PERSON TO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN, IT AFFECTS YOU IN A WAY THAT NO OTHER CAN.

A PIECE OF ME IS GONE NOW.

THE ONLY SOLACE THAT I CAN GET FROM LOSING MY BABY GIRL IS THAT SHE IS NO LONGER IN PAIN.

BUT I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN HAD SHE RECEIVED THE HELP THAT WAS THERE FOR HER IS.

SO NOW COMES THE TASK OF PLANNING A FUNERAL, MEMORIAL SERVICE.

SO WHAT I DECIDED TO DO WAS TO HAVE A WAKE WHERE HER BODY WOULD BE THERE AND A MEMORIAL SERVICE THE NEXT DAY.

THE REASON I CHOSE TO HAVE HER BODY AT THE WAKE WAS BECAUSE I WANTED HER FRIENDS, HER ASSOCIATES TO SEE WHERE THIS DRUG ADDICTION AND WHERE THESE THINGS LEAD.

IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN COME OUT OF THIS TRAGEDY IN OUR LIVES.

I STARTED MYSELF WITH HOPE FOR THE BEREAVED AND I STARTED MY GRANDCHILDREN GOING TO HOPE FOR THE BEREAVED FOR THE HEALING PROCESS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL GO ON FOREVER IN WHAT I UNDERSTAND, WILL NEVER GET OVER WITH WHAT HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER.

BUT HOPEFULLY IT WILL HELP SOMEBODY, WHOEVER IT MAY BE, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS.

THIS IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT AN ADDICT HAS TO WANT TO STOP, TO SEEK HELP.

I KNOW THAT I TRIED TO HELP MY DAUGHTER, HER BROTHER, HER SISTER, HER SISTER-IN-LAW, AUNTS, UNCLES, COUNSELORS, BUT SHE HAD TO DO THE WORK.

AND IF YOU DON'T DO THE WORK, WE END UP LIKE THIS.

THE MESSAGE THAT I REALLY WANTED TO RELAY IS THAT YOU CAN BE AN ADDICT AND DO IT A THOUSAND TIMES.

OR DO IT JUST ONCE.

FENTANYL DOESN'T CARE.

IT WILL KILL YOU.