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The Doctors continue with our United States of Addiction, this time profiling a family ravaged by heroin. Can Cynthia's heroin-addicted daughter Sarah be saved?
Sarah tells us she began using at age 14 and had her first overdosed at 16. When she overdosed, her mom says meth, prescription pills and alcohol were also found in her system. Currently, she tells The Doctors she uses heroin first thing when she wakes up and then uses meth.
Watch: Terrified Mother Doesn’t Want to Bury Her Daughter
She says she will go for almost a week without eating and her mom says she weighs approximately 95 pounds and cannot walk a block on her own. She is also suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and often coughs up blood.
"It kills me to think that I might have to bury her," Cynthia says. When asked about her future, Sarah tells us she sees herself "dead."
The drugs have affected her so much that Sarah says she has seizures unless she's constantly using heroin. Sarah tells us, "I want to have a legit life... I don't feel like I'm living at all right now. I feel like I'm literally stuck in a black hole. My memory is gone, my health is bad... I'd give anything to go back and not even try it. I need to get help. I just want to be happy again," she says, explaining that she hates being high and using.
Watch: Mom’s Intervention with her Heroin Addicted Daughter
Cynthia, Sarah’s grandmother Nancy and Interventionist Ken Seeley confront Sarah about her drug use. Ken also addresses the family dynamics, saying Cynthia's intentions might be good, but he feels she is enabling her daughter. After locking herself in the bathroom for 2 hours, Sarah emerges to face her family, Ken and Caitlin from BRC Recovery, who has offered to treat Sarah.
After being reluctant and making excuses, The Doctors are happy to share that Sarah did enter rehab. BRC Recovery CEO Marsha Stone tells us that Sarah entered a medical detox before starting treatment and says that while Sarah is scared, that she is also excited at the prospect of getting sober.
Ken says for Sarah to be successful in her recovery following rehab that the family needs to change. "We have to make sure that there is a line in the sand and you're either in recovery or you're in the addiction. And you need to choose as a family that you are only supporting recovery," he says.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction please call the confidential and free National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP or visit their website.
