Mary Harris

The calls were intimate, sometimes joyful. One guy talked to Jesse for like half an hour about his life, where he was going over the weekend, his girlfriend, his health. You do good.

Another guy felt guilty for taking up Jesse's time. He tried to have everything ready to go when he called, and he apologized afterward.

Another guy felt guilty for taking up Jesse's time. He tried to have everything ready to go when he called, and he apologized afterward.

Another guy felt guilty for taking up Jesse's time. He tried to have everything ready to go when he called, and he apologized afterward.

He told her he tapes Narcan to his arm and sits on his porch after getting high in case he passes out. He hopes his neighbors will find him. There was no recovery talk. Sprinkled throughout these conversations were little reminders of how scary things are for the people who need this line.

He told her he tapes Narcan to his arm and sits on his porch after getting high in case he passes out. He hopes his neighbors will find him. There was no recovery talk. Sprinkled throughout these conversations were little reminders of how scary things are for the people who need this line.

He told her he tapes Narcan to his arm and sits on his porch after getting high in case he passes out. He hopes his neighbors will find him. There was no recovery talk. Sprinkled throughout these conversations were little reminders of how scary things are for the people who need this line.

Jesse gently admonished one caller who told her he'd used on his own a few hours before without letting her know.

Jesse gently admonished one caller who told her he'd used on his own a few hours before without letting her know.

Jesse gently admonished one caller who told her he'd used on his own a few hours before without letting her know.

It's notable that everyone in this story has some kind of connection to addiction. The people who started the hotline, Stephen the paramedic, Jessie with her daughter, and actually, Jessie herself. 20 years ago, she had a real problem with opioids.

It's notable that everyone in this story has some kind of connection to addiction. The people who started the hotline, Stephen the paramedic, Jessie with her daughter, and actually, Jessie herself. 20 years ago, she had a real problem with opioids.

It's notable that everyone in this story has some kind of connection to addiction. The people who started the hotline, Stephen the paramedic, Jessie with her daughter, and actually, Jessie herself. 20 years ago, she had a real problem with opioids.

For Jessie, there was no rock-bottom moment. But after a couple of years, she started running out of pills, and she didn't want to risk her nursing license to get more. She quit cold turkey, spent three days sick on her bathroom floor. Then it was over. Jessie says her daughter Kaylin started using years later, when a boyfriend introduced her to heroin. Jesse wonders about why a lot.

For Jessie, there was no rock-bottom moment. But after a couple of years, she started running out of pills, and she didn't want to risk her nursing license to get more. She quit cold turkey, spent three days sick on her bathroom floor. Then it was over. Jessie says her daughter Kaylin started using years later, when a boyfriend introduced her to heroin. Jesse wonders about why a lot.

For Jessie, there was no rock-bottom moment. But after a couple of years, she started running out of pills, and she didn't want to risk her nursing license to get more. She quit cold turkey, spent three days sick on her bathroom floor. Then it was over. Jessie says her daughter Kaylin started using years later, when a boyfriend introduced her to heroin. Jesse wonders about why a lot.

Everyone has a why, Jesse says. Kaylin's why, she thinks, sort of has to do with her. Their particular mother-daughter relationship. Jesse can be a hard ass. Kaylin, too. When Kaylin got pregnant at 15, Jesse thought Kaylin's boyfriend was bad news. So she blocked him and his family from calling Kaylin's cell. Kaylin was pissed. She threatened to move out.

Everyone has a why, Jesse says. Kaylin's why, she thinks, sort of has to do with her. Their particular mother-daughter relationship. Jesse can be a hard ass. Kaylin, too. When Kaylin got pregnant at 15, Jesse thought Kaylin's boyfriend was bad news. So she blocked him and his family from calling Kaylin's cell. Kaylin was pissed. She threatened to move out.

Everyone has a why, Jesse says. Kaylin's why, she thinks, sort of has to do with her. Their particular mother-daughter relationship. Jesse can be a hard ass. Kaylin, too. When Kaylin got pregnant at 15, Jesse thought Kaylin's boyfriend was bad news. So she blocked him and his family from calling Kaylin's cell. Kaylin was pissed. She threatened to move out.

One morning, Jesse told her to go ahead and do it. So she did. They'd see each other every once in a while, but it wasn't the same.