Transcripts For ALJAZAM America Tonight 20140720

America is blesswith abundant energy. Fossil fuels, Nuclear Energy, powers or lifestyles. But there is a dark side, hidden cost borne by a small portion of the American Public, americas cheap energy. Our largest fossil fuel resource, coal and the toxic waste it leaves behind. America tonights sarah hoye reports on a group who took on the energy giant. People are dropping like flies. Vicky says this coal fired power plant is killing her people. Those who lived closest to the plant, they all went one after the other. Nestled down in the basin, the moapa reservation on windy days, the coal ash from the plant moves across the desert like a toxic sandstorm. I have to program it to collect samples every six days. Smith sits on the tribal committee. She and others believe the plant has caused asthma, heart disease, and premature deaths, including her brother. He was 31 years old when he passed away. I just realize how many sick people there are, people i work with, my neighbors, the next job and the people that live next to them. So it started having a pattern to me. Were not seeing anything from this plant yet we are dying off, were paying with our lives. Im proud to say i am payute. And im proud of who i am. William anderson led a small band of payutes. The area down here is where my cousins used to live and they passed away. First stop the health board of southern nevada. Anderson said the door was slammed in his face. The response was, you have less than a thousand people so were not going to Pay Attention to whats happening to the reservation. Enter the sierra club. 8,000 pounds of nitrogen oxides every year, this is a fact. They petitioned to close the plant, to force it to clean up the waste. Our children cant play outside anymore. We wanted to keep our kids. Have you and your peep had enough . Yes, we have and now you see the outcome of it. The outcome is that were going to shut this plant down and were going to find other ways to produce energy other than polluting mother earth. Nearly 500,000 gallons of waste water are sent to nearby evaporation ponds. Coal ash which contains mercury arsenic and other tox toxins, force them indoors on ep windy days. Waste water from the plant has contaminated the groundwater, resulting in arsenic levels 140 times higher than federal drinking standards. Barbara kolash. I if i gave you a glass of arsenic laced well water, i could be charged. When sel selenium and other toxic substances get into them and their children, its not a crime . Theres no way to say for certain that its the plant thats making tribal members sick. We cant say this coal ash plant caused aunt marys cancer. But well say this. It wasnt that particular pack of winston cigarettes that caused you your cancer. In a statement said, theyve always operated the power station in an environmentally responsible manner. Growing up, i dont remember going to so many funerals. Sereta hernandez dpru u gw up on the res. She lives in the house her father built. Each suffers from respiratory problems and each needs a form of medication. This is the one my son has to take to help control the asthma. We have inhalers, we have nebulizers, my son takes a steroid at night to help control it. My daughter has headache medicines, and her headaches dont go away. In this david and goliath killing the payutes. It is no kill. In the United States alone, thats why its time to close the dirty relic. [applause] like many reservations the moapa payute community is plagued with poverty unemployment and alcoholism. Nobody knows what you go through, im a mother, one day be a grandmother and im just glad they wont be poisoning the future generations, that hopefully we will be able to overcome it and let our children and grandchildren grow up here and experience the same family traditions we have here as tribe members. The tribe didnt stop at shutting down the coal plant. They turned to solar which powers the rest stop and casino. Here on the interstate, saving about 300,000 in energy bills. The tribe broke ground on a solar park. Utility scale on tribal lands. The 350 megawatt project, enough to power 100,000 homes, is expected to come online next year. And to provide the tribe with a steady source of revenue. Opening the door to financial independence. The payutes also arent taking any chances with mv energy. Theres still coal ash and stuff out there thats contaminating our environment. What are we going to do about it . Once the plant closes the coal ash and other waste are disposed of properly. And for the first time a federal regulation should be released in december. For the small tribe its a pig win protecting not only their life. This is my home. This is where i grew up. My dad helped build this house. Im not going to leave. Its my home. Its our tradition. Coming up, the dark underside of americas domestic oil boom. On techknow. Were heading towards the glaciers a global warning is there an environmental urgency . That is closer than you think. Even a modest rise, have dramatic impacts on humankind. How is it changing the way you live today . Techknow. Every saturday, go where science meets humanity. This is some of the best driving ive ever done. Even though i cant see. Techknow. Were here in the vortex. Only on Al Jazeera America Al Jazeera America. We understand that every news story begins and ends with people. The efforts are focused on rescuing stranded residents. We pursue that story beyond the headline, pass the spokesperson, to the streets. Thousands of riot Police Deployed across the capital. We put all of our Global Resources behind every story. It is a scene of utter devastation. And follow it no matter where it leads all the way to you. Al Jazeera America, take a new look at news. Al Jazeera America starts off at 8 with primetime news. Our fearless journalists bring you Ground Breaking reports from around the world, and here at home. This has been one of the hottest of the hotspots. Then at 9, its Al Jazeera America presents. Award winning documentaries that will open your hearts and minds. I dont know if ive ever seen anything like this. And at 10, dont miss the best the best of america tonight, in depth reports, with unique perspectives. People are coming from hours away, to try to help. Only on Al Jazeera America im ali velshi, the news has become this thing where you talk to experts about people, and al jazeera has really tried to talk to people, about their stories. We are not meant to be your first choice for entertainment. We are ment to be your first choice for the news. Theres an Energy Revolution going on in americas heart land. Crude oil is flowing from the planes of north dakota at a record rate thanks to frack be ing. That is bringing big problems to americas boom towns. Christof putzel, sex trafficking on the prairie. How did this look when you were first mayor . I wouldnt say dead, but probably dying. The sign says it all, williston, north dakota. The mayor has seen it come back from near death. Its amazing what oil can do for you, black gold. Reporter the race to extract that black gold from the prairies of north dakota is evident around williston. Lirchl and you can hear listen and you can hear liquid money filling up tanks. Trucks haul it to tankers in the nearest train depot. And trucks roll through williston all day long. It is a great quantity of oil. Theyve had a huge reply successful rate of getting it. Its changed our whole economy. All of a sudden, boom. All of a sudden, boom. United states is supposed to overtake saudi arabia. At the largest producing country in the world. Highest production in the upper midwest. Bob is a lifelong north dakota farmer. Youre able to lease some of your land and youre making a little bit of money, right . Im not complaining. But not everyone likes what black gold has done to williston. Well you know, a lot of people yeah you hear a lot of them wish it wouldnt happen, that the money isnt worth it. What would you say the biggest impact is . Theres a lot of fighting amongst people here. When you start putting a lot of money out there them jealousy starts and its neighbor against neighbor. And the influx of people have called caused the highest rent increase in the nation. Man camps. What do you pay here . 700 a month plus electric. And you supply the trailer . Yes. Is there much to do around here . The only thing i do is go to the gym stay out of the bars. What about you . Do the same thing. Come up here, work and stay out of trouble. Cant happen to notice the ankle monitor. I couldnt help but get in a strap and get in trouble. Mostly dudes. A lot of testosterone going around. Andrew and fabio now avoid the bar scene. D. U. I. Arrests in williston are up 15 fold, drug abuse is on the rise and theres a spike in domestic violence. The mix of men and money is bringing another playing to williston. This undercover footage reveals the underbelly of the oil boom. Wherever you have lots of men and lots of money youre going to find prostitution and youre going to find s courts. Wendy says the influx of women has formed amassive influx of prostitution, backpage. Com. This looks like dozens. Four pages. But shes not just looking for prostitutes. Often the underage girld she will have her face covered. Underaged girls trapped in a place like williston. A lot of girls under pimp control are branded. Branded . With their pimps name. When she came seven months ago to fight the sex traffic, as a result of the oil work. Why are you so passionate about the work . First of all im a human being, a woman, im a survivor of human trafficking. I was trafficked as a young child. Started start run out with a friend and i was sold to a pimp that night. How many girls have you helped . Since ive been here, ten. Words gotten out and people trust me. How often do you travel at night . Quite often actually. To build relationships and help in any way she can. Shelter, sympathy, even a ticket home. So this right here is a huge area for prostitution. And i would assume trafficking. Right here at walmart. Uhhuh. That seems so surprising. Wherever the money is and wherever the men are. Next stop nearby hotels where she says most of the text trafficking occurs. Some of these hotels along the strip actually have floors that are bought out by pimps. And girls are in those rooms. How dangerous is it for these girls . A girl shows any sign of wanting to exit, theyll be, you know, theres consequences for that. North dakota officials admit that women and children are being caught up in trafficking. But their chance he s of escape are slim. Only one fbi agent is assigned and their shelves are overflowing. Hopefully well be able to offer help. Where are we headed now . Down to the strip clubs. Were holding a selfdefense class, i want to remind the girls the class is tomorrow. Until reenforcements arrive she continues her drive to protect the victims of north dakotas oil boom. North dakotas black gold will continue to flow for decades to come. Fueling americas drive for energy independence. But the boom has brought big city problems to these small farming towns and life here may never be the same. When we return the unlikely come back of a form of energy many consider too radioactive to touch. Disappearing polar caps. In the arctic the prize promises to be much substantial untapped resources. The really big expense hasnt been tested in the arctic could Climate Change reveal new battlefields . Countries are developing combat capabilities fault lines Al Jazeera Americas hard hitting. Theyre blocking the doors. Ground breaking. We have to get out of here. Truth seeking. Award winning investigative documentary series the battle for the arctic only on Al Jazeera America did you know a tensecond test could help your business avoid hours of delay caused by slow internet from the phone company . Thats enough time to record a memo. Idea for sales giveaway. Return a call. Sign a contract. Pick a tie. Take a break with mr. Duck. Practice up for the business trip. Fly to florida. Win an award. Close a deal. Hire an intern. And still have time to spare. Check your speed. See how fast your internet can be. Switch now and add voice and tv for 34. 90. Comcast business. Built for business. Im taking off, but, uh, dont worry. Im gonna leave the tv on for you. And if anything happens, dont forget about the new xfinity my account app. You can troubleshoot technical issues here. If you make an appointment, you can check out the status here. You can pay the bill, too. But dont worry about that right now. Okay. How do i look . Thanks. [ male announcer ] troubleshoot, manage appointments, and bill pay from your phone. Introducing the xfinity my account app. In our final story tonight we take a second look at a form of energy Many Americans consider dangerous and obsolete. Particularly after the triple melt down at the Fukushima Daiichi melt down. The atom can face us from global catastrophe many feel. Michael okwu has the story. Three years after the Fukushima Daiichi disaster, the california plant is the only one left in the state. Do you want this plant shut down and every Nuclear Plant shut down tomorrow . I want every plant in the United States shut down today. I traveled to fukushima last year and found out firsthand what happens when Nuclear Energy goes wrong. 3. 2 microseverts per hour, thats the largest level be since weve been here in japan. The eary on going disaster an ocean away has level Many Americans skittish about nuclear power. The accident at Two Mile Island had already eroded support for a form of energy that had been popular with americans after the 1973 oil embargo. And the film china syndrome in spheres. Can you not promote a technology that produces the most toxic substance on earth and also protect the public. Polls show that more than half of americans oppose increasing Nuclear Energy and nearly 75 dont think government should help build new plants. But now a growing and unlikely movement thinks the American Public is wrong. Michael is a former antinuclear activist whot no longer sounding who is no longer sounding the alarm. We caught up with him. I associated Nuclear Plants with Nuclear Weapons and we just thought it was something sinister. Something to be feared. Reporter but a more sinister threat, catastrophic Climate Change caused him to reconsider. The thing that really snaps out of it is to figure out how do you power a world of 7 billion people without also dealing with Climate Change . He doesnt believe renewables are up to the task. You got to look for ways to produce large quantities of energy in smaller amounts of space. With a smaller footprint. So thats where i kind of came back to nuclear a little bit grudgingly at first a few years ago. Shellenberger is one of a small but Influential Group of Nuclear Opponents climate scientists and innovators who were coming out in favor of Nuclear Energy. How big a countermovement would you say this is . Well its definitely growing. Last fall four of the countrys most prominent climate scientists wrote an open letter to Environmental Group calling them to support the next generation of nuclear power. President obama is certainly pronuclear power. What helped shellenbergers conversion is how much the world has learned from nuclear disaster. After 37 mile island, after the fukushima disaster, you saw a reaction all around the world to take a second look at earthquake and tsunami risks. Many of us in the Nuclear Industry have fought for some time to have nuclear acknowledged as green energy. It is a very benign source of energy generation. I can see people rolling their eyes saying, mabel, did you hear what he just said . I would encourage mabel and her partner to do some more homework on this. A new generation of reactors like the westinghouse ap 100, its backup system doesnt use regular source of power to cool down. Helping mitigate the issues we had at fukushima. Westinghouse, even the new design requires a constant flow of water to the reactor core to prevent meltdown. The next generation of reactors will make things even safer. Why could you not divine a reactor that had no notion to release Nuclear Material . I set out to save the world with nuclear power. Taylor wilson is part of a new generation of nuclear enthusiasts, call them nuclear environmentalists. At 14, wilson became the youngest person ever to create nuclear fusion. You keep yellowed cake in your lab because well i process the stuff. I collect all sorts of nuclear things. Pieces the government lost out of airplanes. Some people collect baseball cards, i collect yellow cake. Small scale modular reactors that simply cant melt down like todays designs. For example earthquake. You break in your primary loop, where does the cooling water go . Goes out the break. Whats cooling this . Nothing. Reactor melts down. But because wilsons reactor uses molten salt as a cooling agent in no situation, properly engineered, should the system release radio activity into the environment. The government recently gave half a billion in financing to Companies Developing similar modular technology. Wilson believes list design could be on the market in five years. Nuclear power has a lot of innovation, a lot of life left in it. If we could go forward in the future saving lives and saving the planet using Nuclear Energy, that in a way you could redeem the atom and i think that it deserves that. But for many, Nuclear Energy remains beyond redemption. What would you say to those activists who may have changed their tune, now . Id say theyre sellouts. Sellouts . Absolutely. Without question . Without question. When we produce something that is so toxic and so lethal as nuclear waste, its a foul deed against our living mother earth. And its wrong. One critic told us directly, said those whove changed their minds about Nuclear Energy are sellouts. What would you say to that person . Were saying the same thing. Trying to create a world where all human people could live safe prosperous lives on an ecologically safe planet. Which risks are you going to choose . For a growing group of environmentalists, the Nuclear Option is the lesser risk. As america looks to its Energy Future it faces new people here dont make enough to get by, but will get rid of their food cards, whatever to get one more. Why cant i be a normal human being. Nobody should be burying their child. The small state in the middle of a big crisis. Heroin, for so Long Associated with big cities and back allies has infected smalltown america. Vermont, with its picture postcard towns is the poster child for an epidemic that is ruining communities, lives, across the country. Im adam may, and this is an america tonight special report, addicted in vermont. Weve been through it all, institutions. I really didnt think i would be sitting here today. People here dont make enough money to get by, but theyll get rid of their food cards, whatever means date day. Take money from the children k anything. Theyll steal from friends and family to get one more. Heroin is spreading through rural america, striking small up tos like rutland, ver monday. No matter what, 24 7 you plot on how to get the next high. Vermont ranks number two in the country for people seeking treatment for oppiad addiction. Serenity house, a halfway home for addicts is tucked away. Matthew and ashley were two hardcore heroin addicts going through a recovery. How hard is it . It destroys you. Mentally you are all over the place, its a rollercoaster. Youre happy, sad, miserable. Physically everything on your body hurts. You deal with it for the rest of your life, you dont graduate from addiction cured. After trouble with the law and a dozen overdoses, ashley, who is 21, hit rock bottom. Mass addiction cost him a career as a computer technician at the department of homeland security. It was great having a good career, travelling and spend twice of that in a year period of time and sit what wonder how did i spend that. Whp i only made this much. Since last year deaths from overdoses doubled. The amount has increased 771 since 2000. Almost everyone we spoke to new someone effected by addiction. I dont know what to do. The pain and hurt is too much. I know how i raised him. He went to private school. He had the best of everything, and i dont know how this addiction took over. I dont. I dont know how it took over. Carol is one. Many broken parents of children in the grip of heroin addiction face. Your second was going to come and talk to us, and he decided not to. Correct. Why . Its a vicious cycle. Its a game. Hell say and do what you want to hear but not folio through with it. He says hes been clean for seven days, do you believe him . Absolutely not. I know nothing about addicts or drugs. I learn a lot. I wake up thinking thank god my son is alive, i think. I havent heard from him. I think hes okay. Id he has not got in trouble with the law. I want to keep him alive i dont know how to do it any more. Do you think he considers how this impacted you . I dont think they care, as long as yes get their fix. How serious is the heroin problem in vermont right now. You can find heroin n every corner. Its in every up to. Dr deb richter is one of vermonts leading specialists, she says the current invasion can we traced back to the abuse of cheep powerful painkillers that are too easy to gate. Its a problem in rural states, boredom, not sure. I was in primary care. I remember seeing it. I moved here in 1999. In the early 2000, 2001. I saw a bunch of 20yearolds come in with oxicontin. It was a turning point. It started with pills, pills crushable and easy to snort. Dr richter believes pharmaceutical problems could have done more. Who did it stem from . The company chose not to but a coating around the medication, that would have made it difficult to snort. Most kids start by snorting medication. If they put the coating around it it may have stopped this. When they decided or the company decided to put a coating, the cost of the drug went way up. The heroin dealerses moved in. With pain killers going for 80 a pill, heroin was a cheaper alternative. Dealers saw a market in rutland recollects and major profit. We are near new york, near massachusetts, near connecticut. People can take a couple of hour trip down and score cheep heroin and sell it for more here. We didnt know she was using drugs until she was in the cocaine addiction around the age 15 to 16. Thats when things got so bad, we had to admit something was wrong, and seek treatment. Patricks daughter started using drugs in high school. With treatment, her parents thought she was out of danger. She had pushed her life around and applied to college. Martins life shattered when police knocked on his door. It was devastating. I had loss before, but not a loss of mine child. No one should bury their child or figure out the clothe well put them in in a casket. Martin ace his daughter bods body was dumped in a parking lot after she died from an overdose. The heroin was pure, and mixed with cocaine. She died a slow death at the apartment of the people she was in. They san tied the place as she was dying. They knew that she was going. People that were with her never got charged. This is the bench that sara sat on when she came down down. After saras death, patrick and his wife decided to start a support group to help families understand and cope. They named the group wits end. If we save or help one other person live, help another family save their child, her life wont have been in vain. She was so much more than drugs. Next, we talk to an unlikely heroin dealer. Plus vermonts governor makes this his number one priority. Our investigation reveals part of the states plan to deal with its a chilling and draconian sentence. It simply cannot stand. Its disgraceful. The only crime they really committed is journalism. They are truth seekers. All they really wanna do is find out whats happening, so they can tell people. Governments around the world all united to condemn this. As you can see, its still a very much volatile situation. The government is prepared to carry out mass array. If you want free press in the new democracy, let the journalists live. Now available, the new al jazeea america mobile news app. Get our exclusive in depth, reporting when you want it. A global perspective wherever you are. The major headlines in context. Mashable says. Youll never miss the latest news they will continue looking for survivors. The potential for Energy Production is huge. No noise, no clutter, just real reporting. The new Al Jazeera America mobile app, available for your apple and android mobile device. Download it now on techknow. Were heading towards the glaciers a global warning is there an environmental urgency . That is closer than you think. Even a modest rise, have dramatic impacts on humankind. How is it changing the way you live today . Techknow. Every saturday, go where science meets humanity. This is some of the best driving ive ever done. Even though i cant see. Techknow. Were here in the vortex. Only on Al Jazeera America welcome back. Vermont is in the midst of a heroin epidemic. The government calls it a problem. Those in the trenches say state efforts are failing. How long have you been clean . 16 months today. Today is 16 months . Yes. Congratulations. Thank you. What does it feel like . Its surreal, i never thought i would say that. 25yearold Kimberley Jones says she was one of the busiest heroin dealers. Its basically an openair market. We witnessed children playing as drivers pull in to make a deal. You sold a lot of drugs. Yes, i used to buy them and sell them. In the heart of the ski country, rutland vermont is ground zero. Addiction circleses are swamped. Heroin is such a problem that the governor made it the focus address. In every corner of our state heroin and opiate drug addiction threatens us. We travel throughout the state of vermont to find out about the governors plan to deal with the crisis. Part of it may be backfiring. We talk to rehab center directors, and they tell us over the last nine months they have seen the relapse rate at the clinic skye rocket. We have seen an increase in the relapsing. Do you have a percentage. Id say its probably 15 to 20 more than it used to be. This man runs serenity house, a rehab center in central vermont treating 400 a year. The state used to pay addicts to stay 28 days. Last july they cut it in half. 14 days, unless patients get a special waiver. What is the i deal number of days that a patient should be in rehab. What is successful. If we can get them there another 60, 90 days, the percentage goes up. The longer we can keep them in some form of formal treatment, the better their chances. Its a concern we heard across the state. Two hours north, america tonight were told that the relapse rate has increased nearly 100 . We asked the commissioner of health why the state shortened rehab. His response surprised us . Im not familiar with that. I can get you that information. State officials said the rate climbed 5 . Difference between their figures and the clinics are blamed on methodology. Shorter stays in rehab means more addicts can be treated. We have the secondhighest per cap ita rate of people that need treatment. The number of people that we are treating increased tenfold and you have to find to be the best stuarts of the dollars stewards of the dollars, to be the most effective to a greater number of people. Is 14 days in rehab enough. Absolutely not. You need 90 days for people to reset their thermostat. Specialist. We need to spend more money. We need more Treatment Centres and longterm rehab facilities. In vermont. If you have insurance, at a rehab facilities, two weeks is bizarre. Ready. Kimberley is in recovery and turned her addiction into advocacy, lobbying lawmakers to increase funding so addicts like her have a fighting chance. They dont understand that this is a disease. I dont suffer from moral defirm si. Its like anything else. Its like having caps ever. I suffer a disease, and theres no known cure. People. The new plan is to cut back existing treatment and focus on out patient care, giving patients heroin replacement drugs . What we want to create is not one size fits everyone. As we put more capacity on outpatient treatment, or treatment at the hubs, the less well need the intradays. Vermont does not have another doctors in prescribe the narcotics and meet the demand. Theres a bunch of people on waiting lists. Theres one waiting list that is 500 to 700. And some have waited two years. In the meantime they are forced to use heroin. And theres a problem. Even though heroin replacement drugs can save lives, they are controversial. The pills replace one addiction with another. The fear is that some of the behavioural stuff that goes along with addiction, if you are giving someone a pill, may not get addressed or resolved. People. Dr chen admits the challenges are overwhelming. I extent 25 years in rutland as a physician, politician, as a school board member. We raised three kids there. It was all around us. I consider myself lucky that it didnt happen to one of my kids. It happened to kimberley, introduced to heroin by her mother. I knew from growing up that drugs were the way to escape. Thats what my mum did, used drugs to get out of reality. How did you make the other choice to clean up, when so men people are falling through . I wanted to live. And i was at a point where i wasnt going to live much longer. Coming up, so what about the next generation . America tonight gets exclusive access to a hospital where babies born to adict mothers go through intense, painful withdrawals. Israels invasion of gaza continues tonight. We have been hearing a lot of tank shelling coming from where we are, here. Every single one of these buildings shook violently. For continuing coverage of the Israeli Palestinian conflict, stay with Al Jazeera America, your global news leader. Al Jazeera America presents we all live for the moment thats all im trying to do 15 stories, 1 incredible journey edge of eighteen coming september only on Al Jazeera America this, is what we do. Al Jazeera America. Im adam may, this is america tonights special investigation into vermonts heroin epidemic in our final report we look to the future. Children born into the dangerous drug culture, paying the price for their parents addiction. It is quite the cry. I know. That was constant. Jessica calman says the guilt is overwhelming. Every time she watches this video of her baby boy. Jax was born physically dependent on a heroin replacement drug. He detoxed. He had the symptoms. Theres no settling him. Jessica lived her life in rutland, vermont. Its a small town with a secret the most pregnant heroin addicted women per capital. By age 20 jessica was addicted to heroin and stayed hooked for 10 years. When she found she was pregnant she fixed to a replacement therapy. Her new sons withdrawal from the drug was so bad jessica thought he would die. He went quiet, his lips turned blue. What did you do . I picked him up and kind of shook him and whichingle breath. Did your heart jump out of its chest . Scared. Now a toddler, jax appears to be normal, energetic and engaging child. He had to be weaned off. Her younger son is also an serboxan baby. This is the ball by clinic. It ball by clinic. It provide treatments to mums and babies. She comes, and then she doesnt. She likes to be rocked and swayed. Thats what we do. Amy is the clinical nurse manager. Giving america tonight a rare look at what the babies experience. This baby is in withdrawal from opiates. In just the last two years, the number of drugaffected new doubled. Drug sickness amplifies itself with physical symptoms. Vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain. The babies get stiff. They are rigid. That is uncomfortable. They sweat. Most babies are here two weeks. Some require up to 40 address of hospitalisation. Its tough for the professionals to watch. This doctor oversees treatment. Counter to what you think, keeping mothers on a heroin replacement drug during pregnancy and after birth is better than going cold turkey. The treatments allow for a level of the opiate in the system so the babies and mums dont go into withdrawal. Its not the same as when you are searching for the opiate on the street and theres a rush and a withdrawal and a withdrawal. Most babies make it through the program without problems. So far research on serboxal withdrawal has not shown longterm effects. The future of the question. Are you worried about the longterm Health Effect on your kids . I am. They are healthy now. My worry is about learning things and disability that way. Its on my mind a lot. As i see them grow and develop, it worries he less. From everything i can see date they are funny kids. Yes. What raises jessica more is raising her chug in rutland children in rutland. Do you think your kids would have a happy and good life . It would be a challenge. Its possible. I dont know if im willing to take the risk. Im an addict. Their father was an addict. Gene. That risk. Addiction. Jessica is off heroin, but needs the replacement drug. Relapse. What is it like to look at your kids. Do you look at them, hold them and think. Im glad i got clean. Yes. Im so grateful for them. And grateful for the life we have. On days when im struggling or feel like giving up, i look at their faces and theres no way. No way. Theyre my heart. I want nothing but the best for them, for our little family. Im hoping, yes, everything will be good. Hoping the next generation doesnt have to pay the price for this ones habit. One thing we found in vermont is there are people passionate about solving the epidemic. Every one of the addict that we spoke to say they are keep, but its a daily clean. Im adam may. America tonight special this is Al Jazeera America, im Thomas Drayton in new york. Lets get you caught up on the top stories of this hour. Its the single most deadly day of the Israeli Offensive in gaza. The u. N. Security council will hold an emergency meeting in over an hour. Hamass armed wing says it has captured on israeli soldier. Israel is yet to confirm the claim. The black boxes from the wreckage of malaysia airlines