The Opioid Crisis: One Mother's Heartbreaking Story
BOSTON (CBS) - "Epidemic" and "crisis" are two words used with growing frequency when describing the escalating number of drug overdose deaths in Massachusetts. While the statistics have led to study committees, round table discussions, and legislative bills, addicts and their families continue to suffer.
In January 2014, an alarming spike in the number of fatal heroin overdoses in southeastern Massachusetts took the crisis from the shadows to the spotlight. The increase was blamed on a batch of heroin laced with fentanyl, but that explanation only scratched the surface.
I dug deeper. I spoke with addicts and their families. I attended support groups, interviewed politicians, police chiefs, a pharmacist who had been robbed, several doctors and a jailed drug dealer.
The research culminated in a multi-part series entitled "Heroin: From Prescription to Addiction," which aired on WBZ NewsRadio 1030 the last week of June 2014.
Over the past year, the crisis has only intensified.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health estimates that through June of 2015 there were 780 overdose deaths due to opioids.
On September 23rd, hundreds of people came to St. Patrick's Church in Watertown for the first annual Candlelight Memorial Vigil, organized by the group Watertown Overcoming Addiction. Carol Morris, 65, a former Watertown resident, addressed the crowd.
Her story begs to be told.
She grew up in Charlestown, raised her large family in Watertown and now lives in Shirley. Carol is the mother of 12 children and she knows the ravages of drug addiction first hand.
Four of her children have died - three from overdoses, one from fentanyl patches. Two more are struggling addicts.
Listen: Part 1
Carol told me if her children had fully realized that in death, there are no second chances, their outcomes would have been different.
She lost her oldest son Joey first. He died 15 years ago, and even now, she wishes she had recognized the signs. Another son, Timothy Grace, lost his battle with addiction in 2004.
Listen: Part 2
Lauren Grace passed away in March 2007. Steven died in February of last year. They were buried together, and Carol visits their grave at Ridgelawn Cemetery in Watertown every chance she gets.
When Lauren died, she would visit the grave every day. She now tries to make the 45-minute trip at least once a week. It's a difficult journey made worse as she drives by painful reminders of the past.
Listen: Part 3
Sarah is 25 years old. Carol figures her daughter has been addicted to prescription drugs for 4 or 5 years.
She said her 28-year-old son Doug has been a heroin addict for roughly three years. Carol told me she spends much of her time trying to keep them alive. She described their battle as "day-to-day."
Listen: Part 4
Carol married her first husband, Joseph Grace, in 1968. He was a former Marine and the father of all of her 12 children. They had been divorced when he died of cancer in 2003.
She married her current husband, Earl Morris, in 2002. He also served in the military. He was a Green Beret for 29 years and has 6 children of his own. Three of them played in the NFL. Joe Morris won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants. Jamie played for the Washington Redskins and Larry for the Green Bay Packers.
A fourth son, Mike, has been a conditioning coach for the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Carol says while Earl can't understand addiction, he is supportive and always backs her up when needed. She decided to come forward with her story in the hope that it will spare other parents her pain.
She has a list of recommendations.
Listen: Part 5
Carol's other recommendations include early education programs, more treatment programs and harsher punishment for drug dealers, repeat offenders in particular.
She urges politicians to act quickly to stop the mounting death toll. Last week, her addicted son Doug lost two more friends to drug overdoses.
If you or someone you know needs help, visit the state's website for more information.
