Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows drug overdoses are the top cause of death for Americans under 50. In the first chapter of our three-part series looking into substance abuse a local family opened up to our Carlos Garcia about their journey of loss and recovery.
AUSTIN, Texas -- Over 60 percent of all overdoses in the year 2015 were related to opiates. Opiates include the illicit drug heroin but also prescription pain relievers like oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, and fentanyl.
“I have been a drug addict since I was about 13 years old. It was the ultimate escape from reality,” said Justin Tiemann.
Tiemann said his dive into drug abuse started with marijuana and alcohol, then prescription pills, heroin came later. It shook up the upbringing Tiemann's mother, Donna Connell, fought to impart.
“Our children were brought up in a christian home with values. They knew right from wrong,” said Connell.
“From the outside it looked like we were a good family,” said Tiemann.
Somewhere along the way, the pill and heroin abuse surfaced as Connell helplessly watched.
“As a mother it’s your worst nightmare,” she said.
After all, she wasn't just losing one son.
“From day one we were pretty much inseparable. We did the same thing, we’re identical twins, so what he tried I tried,” said Tiemann.
Justin and his twin Jordan were both on the same road.
“My daughter who is not an addict, she’s actually a registered nurse with a beautiful family and very responsible, she suffered because all of my attention was on them,” said Connell.
That attention enabled the twins' behavior.
“I bailed them out of jail, I helped pay their bills because I thought that would keep them from using. I thought if I could take some of the stress out of their lives maybe they wouldn’t use,” said Connell.
It wasn't until 2014 that Connell said her enabling took a turn for the worse. It started with a call from the sober house where Tiemann was living.
“I’m calling you because something has happened with Tiemann and it’s not good. My husband got out of the car because a police officer was approaching our car and I sat in the car and waited and he came back. He told me Jordan was dead that he had overdosed," said Connell.
A family splintered and turned into a number but the end was not yet in sight. Their biggest battle had just started.
Watch Part 2 of our series: HEROIN AND OPIOID ABUSE: BEYOND THE NUMBERS, PART 2
Watch Part 3 of our series: HEROIN AND OPIOID ABUSE: BEYOND THE NUMBERS, PART 3