Resurrected, then Vanished – Dead End: Drug Overdoses in the US #features #bigstory
For the Quick Response Team of Fire Station 1 in downtown Portland, an overdose call before lunch is business as usual. A life in the U.S. is lost to drug us...

CGTN America
17.3K views • Jul 15, 2025

About this video
For the Quick Response Team of Fire Station 1 in downtown Portland, an overdose call before lunch is business as usual. A life in the U.S. is lost to drug use every 11 minutes.
The unit was set up as part of the town’s response to a deepening addiction epidemic, and the EMTs –emergency medical technicians— know exactly what to do. Upon arrival at the bus stop where the user is lying motionless on the pavement, they administer a shot of Narcan, a medication that’s proven very effective at reversing an opioid overdose.
“It usually takes 2 minutes before it really kicks in,” says Justin De Jesus, a veteran paramedic. Sure enough, after a few rubs on its chest, the individual comes back to life. He declines any type of treatment before heading back onto the streets. “Actually, if someone overdoses and dies, they will seek that same dealer because they know, in their words, “it’s the good stuff”. In their mind, they’ll just do a little less.”
Watch the rest of ‘Dead End: Drug Overdoses in the U.S.,’ the latest Big Story documentary 👉https://www.cgtnnow.com/videos/dead-end-drug-overdoses-in-the-u-s
Watch CGTN LIVE on your computer, tablet or mobile
https://cgtnamerica.vhx.tv/videos/hd-live-broadcasts
Subscribe to CGTN America on YouTube
Follow CGTN America:
Twitter: @cgtnamerica
Facebook: @cgtnamerica
Instagram: @cgtnamerica
TikTok: @cgtnamerica.tiktok
This material is distributed by MediaLinks TV, LLC on behalf of CCTV. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
The unit was set up as part of the town’s response to a deepening addiction epidemic, and the EMTs –emergency medical technicians— know exactly what to do. Upon arrival at the bus stop where the user is lying motionless on the pavement, they administer a shot of Narcan, a medication that’s proven very effective at reversing an opioid overdose.
“It usually takes 2 minutes before it really kicks in,” says Justin De Jesus, a veteran paramedic. Sure enough, after a few rubs on its chest, the individual comes back to life. He declines any type of treatment before heading back onto the streets. “Actually, if someone overdoses and dies, they will seek that same dealer because they know, in their words, “it’s the good stuff”. In their mind, they’ll just do a little less.”
Watch the rest of ‘Dead End: Drug Overdoses in the U.S.,’ the latest Big Story documentary 👉https://www.cgtnnow.com/videos/dead-end-drug-overdoses-in-the-u-s
Watch CGTN LIVE on your computer, tablet or mobile
https://cgtnamerica.vhx.tv/videos/hd-live-broadcasts
Subscribe to CGTN America on YouTube
Follow CGTN America:
Twitter: @cgtnamerica
Facebook: @cgtnamerica
Instagram: @cgtnamerica
TikTok: @cgtnamerica.tiktok
This material is distributed by MediaLinks TV, LLC on behalf of CCTV. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
Tags and Topics
Browse our collection to discover more content in these categories.
Video Information
Views
17.3K
Likes
261
Duration
1:29
Published
Jul 15, 2025
User Reviews
4.6
(3) Related Trending Topics
LIVE TRENDSRelated trending topics. Click any trend to explore more videos.