REPORTER: FIRE STATIONS, A
COMMON SIGHT IN MOST
NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWNS.
FIRE TRUCKS, A WELCOME SIGHT
WHEN THINGS ARE BAD.
BUT INSIDE THIS MANCHESTER FIRE
HOUSE, LIFE
SAVING IS HAPPENING MANY TIMES A
DAY.
>> I WOULD RATHER BRING THEM TO
YOU LIKE THIS THEN FIND THEM ON
THE STREET WITH A NEEDLE.
REPORTER: THE FIGHT AGAINST THE
HEROIN/FENTANYL
EPIDEMIC IS HAPPENING RIGHT HERE
24/7.
IT IS 11:30 THIS MORNING, AND
THIS IS THE SECOND SAVE STATION
ADMISSION OF THE DAY.
ALICE ISN'T HER REAL
NAME BUT THAT'S HER FOOT
SHAKING.
>> SHE WENT THROUGH WITHDRAWALS.
SHE HAD A SMALL DOSE THIS
MORNING, BUT IN HER WORDS, NOT
ENOUGH.
REPORTER: PASTOR DONOVAN AND HIS
WIFE DROVE 66
MILES FROM OSSIPEE TO TO GET
-- TO GET ALICE HELP.
THIS IS THEIR SEVENTH TRIP IN
SIX MONTHS.
>> THERE ARE NO BEDS AVAILABLE
IN MY AREA TO HELP.
>> WE THAT PEOPLE COME FROM
MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, VERMONT,
ALABAMA, CALIFORNIA, JUST
BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY PROGRAM
LIKE IN THE COUNTRY.
REPORTER: SAFE STATION IS THE
BRAINCHILD OF CHRIS
HICKEY, IT STARTED WITH AN
ENCOUNTER WITH
A STRANGER WHO CAME TO THE FIRE
HOUSE
FOR HELP, AND AN E-MAIL TO THE
CHIEF, WHO SENT IT TO THE MAYOR.
SEVEN MONTHS LATER, IT HAS
HELPED NEARLY 600 PEOPLE.
IT'S AN ACCESS POINT, THE
BEGINNING
OF A LONG JOURNEY.
THAT STARTS WITH A SHORT WALK
NEXT DOOR
TO SERENITY PLACE.
AN OUTPATIENT PROGRAM
THAT'S BEEN DOING RECOVERY WORK
IN THE
QUEEN CITY FOR 40 YEAR
>> WE JUST WANT TO MEET PEOPLE
WHERE THEY ARE AT.
REPORTER: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
STEPHANIE BERGERON
CAUTIONS AGAINST PREMATURE
CELEBRATION
OVER SAFE STATION SUCCESS.
THE SUCCESS RATE IS ON THE
>>THE SUCCESS RATE IS ON THE
BACK END.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW, WHAT'S
HAPPENING, WE NEED TO
DEMONSTRATE THAT.
REPORTER NEW HAMPSHIRE RANKS AT
THE BOTTOM NATIONALLY WHEN IT
COMES TO ACCESS TO TREATMENT.
ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES, NEW HAMPSHIRE
HAS INPATIENT
270 TREATMENT BEDS.
THAT'S A 25%
INCREASE SINCE FEBRUARY 2015.
>> HIGH-INTENSITY TREATMENT IS
NECESSARY, AND WE DO NOT HAVE
ENOUGH BEDS.
BUT THAT DOES NOT EQUATE
TREATMENT.
>> HOW ARE YOU DOING?
REPORTER: STEVEN IS 5
HE IS ADDICTED TO ALCOHOL AND
HAS
BEEN SLEEPING ON THE STREETS FOR
THREE WEEKS.
HE ARRIVED WITH A GIFT FOR THE
FIREHOUSE KITCHEN, BAGS OF MAPLE
SYRUP.
FIREFIGHTERS SEE IT AS A CRY FOR
HELP AND
RESPOND.
>> I NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE.
REPORTER: A COALITION OF
CAREGIVERS SURROUND HIM IN
MINUTES.
HE WILL GET A BED AT
HELPING HANDS AND RECOVERY
SUPPORT
DURING THE DAY AT SERENITY
PLAC
THE SEAMLESS RESPONSE IS KIND
AND QUIC
FLORIDA, MASSACHUSETTS, OHIO,
FDNY IN THE
BRONX WANT TO KNOW HOW
MANCHESTER DID
IT AND WHAT THE COST IS AND HOW
IT WORKS.
>> WE ARE SAVING LIVES, I CAN
GUARANTEE YOU THAT.
REPORTER: THE CRISIS IN NEW
HAMPSHIRE IS STILL VERY MUCH A
CRISIS.
AND STEPHANIE BERGERON BELIEVES
THE
MEDICAL COMMUNITY IS
DISCRIMINATING AND
COMPLICATING HOW PATIENTS GET
CARE.
>> ANYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO
TO
THEIR PRIMARY CARE OR AN
EMERGENCY ROOM
AND SAY I'M HAVING A PROBLEM
WITH
ADDICTION.
IT SHOULD NOT BE A STRUGGLE, IT
SHOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO YOUR
WHOLE HEALTH.
REPORTER: BUT UNTIL THAT HAPPENS
THESE
ORGANIZATIONS ARE DETERMINED TO
SAVE
EVERY LIFE THEY CAN.
>> YOU CAN COME HERE ARE 1000
TIMES, WE DO NOT CARE.
WE ALWAYS SAY YOU ARE A CLIENT
FOREVER.
>> THIS IS OPENING PEOPLE'S EYES
AS FAR AS
WHAT COMMUNITIES ARE CAPABLE OF
DOING
WHEN THEY ALL SIT AT THE SAME
TABLE.
REPORTER: MOST SAFE STATION
ADMISSIONS IN
MANCHESTER HAPPEN RIGHT HERE AT
THE CENTRAL FIRE DEPARTMENT.
BUT MANY PEOPLE TURN TO
HOSPITALS AND THE ER WHEN PAINS
OF WITHDRAWAL SET IN.
HOSPITAL OFFICIALS SAY
ADMISSIONS HAVE
SKYROCKETED AND THE COST OF
HOSPITAL
DETOX RUNS OVER $2000 A DAY.
THEY CALL IT AN INEFFICIENT USE
OF RESOURCES.
SHELLEY: NEXT WEEK WILL MARK SIX
MONTHS FOR SAFE
STATIONS.
SO FAR, MORE THAN 650 PEOPLE
HAVE COME
TO MANCHESTER'S FIRE STATIONS
FOR HELP.
JUST 20% HAVE BEEN RETURN
PARTICIPANTS.
AND THEY COME FROM EVERY CORNER
OF THE
STATE, PEOPLE FROM 85
COMMUNITIES HAVE
