The dark secret of heroin or opioid addiction is out in the open due to several viral videos, but a powerful drug has become more mainstream to ensure that those who pass out don't pass away.
It's that same drug the Colorado Springs Fire Department has used hundreds of times a year since 2012 .Just in 2017, Colorado Springs firefighters and medics responded to more than 600 emergencies where they had to use the drug Narcan.
But in 2018, there were 20 fewer cases; it's a downward trend that could indicate progress.
"I feel like the use of Narcan seems to come and go in waves, personally," said first responder Brittany Nunez.
She's experienced these ordeals firsthand, responding when addictions and reactions to opioids lead to a life-or-death struggle.