State of Addiction: Mother hopes for stronger system for those battling drug addiction

WEBVTT REPORTER: -- >> YOU EITHER NEEDTO GET HIM INTO TREATMENT, PAYFOR HIM TO GO TO TREATMENT, ORYOU'LL BE PAYING FOR HISFUNERAL.REPORTER: HARSH WORDS THISMOTHER HAS TAKEN TO HEART, INSEARCH OF HELP FOR HER SON WHO'SADDICTED TO HEROIN.>> HE HAD OPIOD PILLS WHEN HEBROKE HIS ANKLE, WHEN HE WASAROUND.REPORTER: TEN YEARS LATER, HE'SSTILL ADDICTED, BUT TO EVENHARDER DRUGS.AN ILLNESS THAT PUT HIM IN JAIL,AND ALSO THE HOSPITAL, AFTEROVERDOSING ON FENTANYL.>> IT'S A VICIOUS CYCLE.REPORTER: AFTER GETTING OUT OFJAIL IN OCTOBER, HER SON WASREADY TO GET HELP, BUT SHE SAYSTHAT HELP WAS HARD TO COME BY.>> HE CALLED THEM AND TOLD THEMTHAT HE QUALIFIED FOR MEDICAID,AND THEY SAID HE DIDN'T TAKEMEDICAID.REPORTER: WITHOUT SPENDING MORETHAN $30,000, THIS MOTHER SAYSTHE ONLY INPATIENT TREATMENTPROGRAM HER SON QUALIFIED FORWAS THROUGH HEARTLAND FAMILYSERVICE.AND THE WAITING LIST, NEARLYTHREE MONTHS LONG.>> THE FEAR IS THAT HE'LL DIEBEFORE HE FINALLY DOES GET ANOPPORTUNITY TO GO TO RESIDENTIALTREATMENT.REPORTER: A SYSTEM SHE FEELS ISFAILING HER SON, AND SO MANYOTHERS IN DIRE NEED OF HELP.EACH DAY THAT PASSES, MORECRITICAL.>> IT JUST SEEMS LIKE ANINCREDIBLE HURDLE FOR THESEADDICTS TO TRY TO JUMP OVER INORDER TO GET THE HELP THAT THEYNEED.REPORTER: WHILE SHE WAITS, THISMOTHER HOPES FOR PROGRESS.>> WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER, THAT'SWHEN THINGS HAPPEN.REPORTER: AND PRAYS TIME IS ONHER SON'S SIDE.>> IT'S LIKE A TICKING TIME BOMBKIND OF THING.REPORTER: HEARTLAND FAMILYSERVICES CONFIRMS IT DOES HAVE AWAITING LIST FOR ITS INPATIENTPROGRAM, BUT COULDN'T SAY HOWMANY PEOPLE ARE ON IT.COALITION R-X TELLS ME FEWINPATIENT REHABILITION PROGRAMSACCEPT MEDICAID.THE ONES THAT DO ARE USUALLYSELECTIVE ON WHICH INSURANCEPLANS THEY ACCEPT, AND TYPICALLY