Family speaks about losing loved one to heroin overdose

A local family is speaking about the deadly heroin epidemic sweeping our nation.

“I work in the medical field. I know when somebody has a pulse or when they’re breathing. I was just holding on that maybe he was going to be okay. They just said there’s nothing we can do for him, he’s cold,” Emily Helgeson said.

Helgeson found her boyfriend’s body cold just like the drug that took his life.

“I know he didn’t want to be that person. That wasn’t who he was. Tt just took over him. He was a slave to the drug,” Helgeson said.

Cody Hill, 24, was a slave to heroin.

“He was full of life; totally full of life,” said Tracy Shaul.

Shaul says her son was also empty at the same time.

“The loneliness. Even though he was surrounded by people that loved and cared and begged him to stop,” Shaul said.

“It started with pain pills,” Shaul said.

A doctor prescribed them to Hill after a snowboarding accident. After that, his addiction took over.

“There’s not a detox center around,” Shaul said.

The mother and girlfriend struggled to find help for the 24-year-old.

“It’s a hand from hell,” said Shaul.

A hell, they want to make sure nobody else falls victim to.

“These kids need to know don’t be ashamed, don’t try and hide it,” Shaul said.