Over the last few days we've met Justin Tiemann and his mother, Donna. They sat down with Carlos Garcia to talk about the impact opioids have had on their family. And as you'll hear in this final chapter in our series, recovery is a work in progress.

AUSTIN, Texas — Since the death of his twin brother Jordan, Justin Tiemann has been on a rocky road of rehabilitation and research. Learning about addiction led to some personal revelations for everyone in Tiemann's orbit.

“When you love an addict and your child is an addict, all of those things that you do that come naturally to protect them are the wrong things to do,” said Donna Connell, Tiemann's mother.

Tiemann is not traveling this road alone. After many trials, he's found the right sponsor at Infinite Recovery Austin.

“Addiction is very misunderstood. They have to socialize because if they don’t socialize, they isolate. And if they isolate that’s the road back to a relapse,” said Connell.

Tiemann admits his journey is full of doubt, shame and regret.

“You take it a day a time. Especially with the life that someone like me has lived,” said Tiemann.

But now for Tiemann and his family that journey includes a future.

“Until we start to recognize this for what it is, which is a medical condition and not a moral failing nothing is going to change,” says Connell.

Until then every day clean is a personal victory. 

Watch Part 1 of our series: HEROIN AND OPIOID ABUSE: BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Watch Part 2 of our series: HEROIN AND OPIOID ABUSE: BEYOND THE NUMBERS, PART 2