The opioid painkiller epidemic took a strange twist when doctors clamped down on the prescription drugs. Users began turning to heroin as a replacement for opioids, and the heroin overdose death rate shot up.
In response, many communities have begun equipping first responders with the drug naloxone--also called Narcan--to revive overdose patients long enough to get medical help.
Julia Pinsky's son died of a heroin overdose; she started to help distribute naloxone.
Sara Smith is a nurse and organizer for a naxolone support group under .
Brett Johnson is deputy police chief in Medford. They join us to talk about the practical uses of naxolone, and the obstacles to obtaining and using it.
