Ep 3. Episode 3

In episode 3 of 999: What's Your Emergency? the focus is on the impact of drug addiction in one particular town. The episode starts with a call to emergency services from a worried mother who has found her daughter unconscious in her bedroom after taking an overdose of prescription medication. The operator talks the mother through performing CPR until the ambulance arrives and takes the daughter to hospital.

From here, we are introduced to the police officers who are dealing with the case. They explain that drug addiction is a significant problem in the area and that overdoses are not uncommon. They take the viewer on a tour of the town, highlighting pockets of drug activity and explaining the various types of drugs that are prevalent. They also talk about the link between drug addiction and crime, explaining that many drug users resort to stealing to fund their habit.

Next, we meet some of the healthcare workers who are dealing with drug addicts on a daily basis. We hear from paramedics who talk about the challenges they face when dealing with drug overdoses, and we also meet nurses who work on the front line in A&E. They explain that they see a lot of drug addicts coming into the hospital and that many of them are there for treatment after contracting infections from injecting drugs.

The episode also explores the support that is available for drug addicts who want to quit. We hear from a drug worker who runs a support group for addicts, and we also follow a young woman who is trying to get her life back on track after becoming addicted to heroin. She tells her story, explaining how she became addicted and the impact that it had on her life, and we see her attending a support group meeting where she receives encouragement and advice from others who are in recovery.

Throughout the episode, we see how drug addiction affects not only the addicts themselves but also their families and the wider community. We meet a mother who has lost her son to a drugs overdose and hear how she is struggling to come to terms with his death. We also see the impact that drug dealing has on the community, with residents telling stories of the antisocial behaviour and violence that often accompanies drug activity.

Overall, episode 3 of 999: What's Your Emergency? offers a powerful insight into the devastating impact of drug addiction. It shows the real-life challenges faced by emergency services, healthcare workers, and support workers, and highlights the importance of education, prevention, and support for addicts and their families.