Mary Harris

It was started, as Jesse puts it, by a bunch of drug users who were tired of watching their friends die. When she first volunteered to answer calls, the screening process to be an operator consisted of talking to one guy to see if he were a fit. The very same day, she picked up her cell and got connected to someone who was about to get high.

In the years since, Jesse's set up a whole system, a script that operators can use, a training regimen. But this organization is still basically run on a Google Doc and a prayer. I hung out while Jesse took one call after another over two days.

In the years since, Jesse's set up a whole system, a script that operators can use, a training regimen. But this organization is still basically run on a Google Doc and a prayer. I hung out while Jesse took one call after another over two days.

In the years since, Jesse's set up a whole system, a script that operators can use, a training regimen. But this organization is still basically run on a Google Doc and a prayer. I hung out while Jesse took one call after another over two days.

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.

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.

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.