>> Sreenivasan: ON THIS EDITION FOR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6: OFFICIALS SAY F.D.A.

AUTHORIZATION FOR A COVID-19 VACCINE COULD COME THIS WEEK.

>> THE ROAD, THE PATH IS THE KEY, NOT THE GOAL.

>> Sreenivasan: AND THE DOORS DRUMMER JOHN DENSMORE: SEEKING THE ORIGINS OF CREATIVITY.

NEXT ON "PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND."

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>> Sreenivasan: GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE COVID-19 VACCINE EXPECTED TO BE APPROVED THIS WEEK IN THE U.S. IS ON ITS WAY TO MILLIONS IN GREAT BRITAIN TODAY.

THE FIRST DOSES OF THE PFIZER VACCINE WILL BE ADMINISTERED ON TUESDAY-- A DAY THE BRITISH HEALTH SECRETARY IS REPORTEDLY CALLING V-DAY-- A REFERENCE TO VICTORIES IN WORLD WAR II.

THE UNITED KINGDOM WAS THE FIRST COUNTRY TO APPROVE THE PFIZER VACCINE AND WILL GIVE PRIORITY TO PEOPLE OVER 80 AND FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

THE U.K. HAS ORDERED ENOUGH DOSES FOR 20 MILLION PEOPLE, WHICH COULD VACCINATE NEARLY A THIRD OF THE COUNTRY'S POPULATION.

IN THE U.S., THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION WILL VOTE ON AN EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION FOR PFIZER'S VACCINE THIS THURSDAY.

MONCEF SLAOUI THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S CHIEF ADVISER FOR VACCINE DEVELOPMENT-- OPERATION WARP SPEED-- SAID HE EXPECTS AN APPROVAL.

>> IT SHOULD TAKE THEM ABOUT 24 HOURS TO MAKE IT TO THE VARIOUS IMMUNIZATION SITES THAT THE VARIOUS JURISDICTION AND STATES HAVE TOLD US TO SHIP VACCINES TO THEM.

AND WITHIN, I WOULD SAY, 36 HOURS FROM APPROVAL, POTENTIALLY THE FIRST IMMUNIZATION COULD BE TAKING PLACE.

>> Sreenivasan: SLAOUI ALSO SAID WILL HAVE HIS FIRST MEETING WITH PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN THIS WEEK.

ON FRIDAY MR. BIDEN SAID HE HAD NOT YET SEEN A DETAILED PLAN FOR VACCINE DISTRIBUTION.

THE VIRUS CONTINUES TO RESURGE.

HOSPITALIZATIONS, CONFIRMED CASES AND DEATHS RELATED TO COVID-19 ARE ALL INCREASING.

DR. DEBORAH BIRX, THE WHITE HOUSE CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE COORDINATOR, CAUTIONED AMERICANS TO CONTINUE TO TAKE ACTIONS TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS AND NOT TO BELIEVE FALSE INFORMATION.

>> I HEAR COMMUNITY MEMBERS PARROTING BACK THOSE SITUATIONS, PARROTING BACK THAT MASKS DON'T WORK, PARROTING BACK THAT WE SHOULD WORK TOWARDS HERD IMMUNITY, PARROTING BACK THAT GATHERINGS DON'T RESULT IN SUPER-SPREADING EVENTS, AND I THINK OUR JOB IS TO CONSTANTLY SAY THOSE ARE MYTHS, THEY ARE WRONG, AND YOU CAN SEE THE EVIDENCE BASE.

>> Sreenivasan: LATE THIS AFTERNOON PRESIDENT TRUMP TWEETED THAT HIS PERSONAL LAWYER-- FORMER NEW YORK CITY MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI-- HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE CORONAVIRUS.

GIULIANI HAS BEEN LEADING THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN'S ELECTION CHALLENGES, MOST OF WHICH HAVE FAILED.

THE TWEET ENDED WITH "...GET BETTER SOON RUDY.

WE WILL CARRY ON."

GEORGIA'S TWO RUNOFF ELECTIONS THAT WILL DECIDE WHICH PARTY CONTROLS THE U.S. SENATE ARE ONE MONTH AWAY, AND THERE'S ONE DAY LEFT TO REGISTER NEW VOTERS.

>> THANK YOU, GEORGIA!

>> Sreenivasan: REPUBLICAN SENATORS KELLY LOEFFLER AND DAVID PERDUE WERE ON STAGE WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP LAST NIGHT.

IT WAS THE PRESIDENT'S FIRST RALLY SINCE HE LOST HIS REELECTION BID.

HE SPENT MOST OF HIS TIME BASELESSLY CALLING PRESIDENT- ELECT JOE BIDEN'S WIN IN GEORGIA A FRAUD AND CHALLENGING THE VALIDITY OF THE STATE'S BALLOTS.

THE TWO SENATORS TRIED TO BOTH SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT AND ASK FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE JANUARY 5 ELECTION.

>> GEORGIA, WE NEED YOU TO VOTE!

>> Sreenivasan: DEMOCRATS RAPHAEL WARNOCK AND JON OSSOFF ARE CHALLENGING THE INCUMBENTS.

IF BOTH DEMOCRATS WIN, THE SENATE WOULD HAVE A 50-50 SPLIT WITH TIE VOTES DECIDED BY VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT KAMALA HARRIS.

DEBATES ARE SCHEDULED FOR TONIGHT IN ATLANTA, BUT PERDUE IS NOT PARTICIPATING.

LOEEFLER AND WARNOCK WILL FACE OFF.

OSSOFF WILL APPEAR ALONE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

THE UNITED KINGDOM IS ENTERING FINAL NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION BEFORE ITS EXIT FROM THE TRADING BLOC IS FINALIZED AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

TODAY, THE U.K.'S CHIEF BREXIT NEGOTIATOR, DAVID FROST, ARRIVED AT E.U.

HEADQUARTERS TO DISCUSS RULES OVER FAIR COMPETITION AND HOW TO SOLVE FUTURE TRADE DISPUTES.

ACCORDING TO U.K.

NEWSPAPER "THE GUARDIAN," THE DAY ALSO SAW A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH ON EUROPEAN FISHING RIGHTS IN BRITISH WATERS.

THOUGH BRITAIN OFFICIALLY LEFT THE E.U.

AT THE END OF LAST JANUARY, IT REMAINS INSIDE THE UNION'S TARIFF-FREE SINGLE MARKET UNTIL DECEMBER 31.

LEAVING THAT MARKET WITHOUT A TRADE DEAL COULD HAVE DEVASTATING EFFECTS ON THE U.K.'S ECONOMY.

VENEZUELANS WENT TO THE POLLS TODAY FOR A CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION THAT THE U.S. AND MANY OTHER COUNTRIES ARE ALREADY CALLING FRAUDULENT.

THE ELECTION IS EXPECTED TO GIVE PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO CONTROL OVER VENEZUELA'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE YEARS.

BUT THE ELECTION'S LEGITIMACY IS BEING QUESTIONED, BECAUSE EARLIER THIS YEAR VENEZUELA'S SUPREME COURT-- WHICH IS LOYAL TO MADURO-- APPOINTED A NEW ELECTIONS COMMISSION WITHOUT THE PARTICIPATION OF THE CONGRESS AS IS REQUIRED BY LAW.

OPPOSITION LEADER JUAN GUAIDO CALLED FOR A BOYCOTT OF THE ELECTIONS AND WILL HOLD A REFERENDUM NEXT WEEK ASKING VENEZUELANS TO END MADURO'S RULE AND HOLD NEW PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

FOR THE LATEST NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS VISIT pbs.org/newshour.

>> Sreenivasan: WHILE THERE HAS BEEN MUCH ATTENTION GIVEN TO THE APPROVAL FOR A COVID-19 VACCINE, LITTLE ATTENTION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO HOW THE FACILITIES-- WHERE MANY VACCINES ARE MANUFACTURED-- ARE BEING REGULATED.

A RECENT INVESTIGATION IN "VANITY FAIR" MAGAZINE FEATURES A FORMER F.D.A.

INSPECTOR TURNED WHISTLEBLOWER WHO SAYS THAT THE F.D.A.

IS NOT DOING ITS JOB AND DOWNGRADED HIS FINDINGS TO ESCAPE REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT.

THE ARTICLE ALSO CITES DOCUMENTS AND LETTERS CHARGING THE PLANTS LACK PROPER F.D.A.

OVERSIGHT.

THE F.D.A.

RESPONDED THAT MEDICAL PRODUCTS ARE MADE "IN COMPLIANCE WITH GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICE."

I RECENTLY SPOKE WITH THE "VANITY FAIR" ARTICLE'S REPORTER, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR KATHERINE EBAN, WHO IS ALSO THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK "BOTTLE OF LIES: THE INSIDE STORY OF THE GENERIC DRUG BOOM."

WHO CHECKS ALL THESE PLANTS?

>> THE F.D.A.

IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INSPECTING THE MANUFACTURING CONDITIONS INSIDE ANY PLANT THAT IS MAKING DRUGS THAT GO TO U.S.

PATIENTS.

THEY HAVE AN ELITE UNIT OF HIGHLY TRAINED INVESTIGATORS CALLED "TEAM BIOLOGICS."

BUT SURPRISINGLY, IT'S ONLY 14 PEOPLE WHO ARE REQUIRED TO INVESTIGATE CONDITIONS IN 280 BIOLOGIC PLANTS THAT SELL DRUGS AND BIOLOGIC PRODUCTS INTO THE U.S.

SO, THIS IS A-- OUR INVESTIGATION REVEALED IT'S A DEMORALIZED UNIT CLAIMING OF POOR SUPERVISION FROM INEXPERIENCED SUPERVISORS.

THERE ARE PERSONNEL COMPLAINTS INSIDE THAT UNIT.

THIS WHISTLEBLOWER ALLEGED THAT HE WAS NOT EMPOWERED TO DO HIS JOB.

HE FELT THAT IT THREATENED THE SAFETY OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.

>> Sreenivasan: SO, AN INSPECTOR GOES INTO A PLANT, FINDS THINGS WRONG.

THEY FILE A REPORT AND PRESUMABLY THERE'S SOME SORT OF REGULATORY ACTION TAKEN AGAINST THE COMPANY TO CLEAN UP ITS ACT?

>> RIGHT.

SO, AN INVESTIGATOR HAS TO CLASSIFY THEIR FINDINGS IN ANY PLANT.

THOSE CAN BE NO ACTION INDICATED, WHICH MEANS THEY DIDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS, VOLUNTARY ACTION INDICATED, WHICH MEANS THE PLANT SHOULD TAKE SOME STEPS TO MAKE CHANGES, OR OFFICIAL ACTION INDICATED, WHICH IS THE MOST SERIOUS.

ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS INSIDE TEAM BIOLOGICS IS THAT INVESTIGATORS ARE GOING IN FINDING CONDITIONS THAT THEY CLASSIFY AS OFFICIAL ACTION INDICATED, WHICH MEANS URGENT, THE PLANT NEEDS TO MAKE URGENT CHANGES BECAUSE THERE ARE REAL HAZARDS THERE, AND THAT BUREAUCRATS BACK AT F.D.A.

HEADQUARTERS WERE DOWNGRADING THOSE RECOMMENDED CLASSIFICATIONS.

>> Sreenivasan: SO, THIS COMES IN AN ERA WHERE THERE IS INCREASED VACCINE HESITANCY.

THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION SAYS THAT IS ONE OF THE TOP TEN PROBLEMS THAT'S FACING THE PLANET RIGHT NOW.

YOU KNOW, AN ARTICLE LIKE YOURS, I CAN EASILY SEE AN ANTI-VAX COMMUNITY PICKING IT UP AND SAYING, "HERE YOU GO.

HERE'S ONE MORE REASON THAT WE SHOULD NOT GET A COVID VACCINE OR ANY OTHER BECAUSE THESE PLANTS ARE HORRIBLY REGULATED."

WHAT IS-- WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?

>> WELL, I'M GLAD YOU BRING THAT UP, BECAUSE WHEN THESE ISSUES FIRST CAME TO MY ATTENTION, MY REACTION WAS "I'M NEVER WRITING THAT ARTICLE BECAUSE THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS CONTRIBUTE TO VACCINE HESITANCY."

HOWEVER, I THINK IT IS CRITICAL THAT THE F.D.A.

DOES ITS JOB.

SO, WE WERE VERY CLEAR IN THE ARTICLE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE ANTI-VAXER POSITION LINKING VACCINES TO AUTISM IS REALLY BASED ON DEBUNKED SCIENCE, FULL OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUES WE RAISED IN THIS STORY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ANTI-VAXER POSITION.

THEY HAVE TO DO WITH WHETHER THE F.D.A.

IS DOING THE JOB IT IS SUPPOSED TO DO, WHICH IS ENSURING THAT ALL THESE MANUFACTURING PLANTS FOLLOW GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICES.

>> Sreenivasan: KATHERINE EBAN, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Sreenivasan: 50 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH THE AMERICAN ROCK BAND THE DOORS PLAYED THEIR FINAL SHOW TOGETHER IN NEW ORLEANS.

LEAD SINGER JIM MORRISON DIED UNEXPECTEDLY SEVERAL MONTHS LATER AT THE AGE OF 27, MARKING THE END OF AN ERA.

FOR THE BAND'S DRUMMER, JOHN DENSMORE, THE ENSUING YEARS HAVE BEEN A CONTINUED ARTISTIC EXPLORATION-- ONE THAT HAS INCLUDED MUSIC, BUT ALSO A VENTURE INTO THE MEANING OF CREATIVE FULFILLMENT.

NEWSHOUR WEEKEND'S CHRISTOPHER BOOKER RECENTLY SPOKE WITH DENSMORE ABOUT HIS NEW BOOK, "THE SEEKERS."

♪ ♪ ♪ >> Reporter: AT THIS POINT, THE STORY OF THE DOORS IS FAMILIAR, WHETHER IN BOOKS, DOCUMENTARIES OR HOLLYWOOD MOVIES.

THE BAND'S ASTONISHINGLY SHORT, METEORIC RISE AND RUN HAS BEEN WELL COVERED.

♪ FIVE TO ONE, BABY ONE IN FIVE ♪ NO ONE HERE GETS OUT ALIVE, NOW ♪ AND WHILE DRUMMER JOHN DENSMORE HAS LONG PLAYED A ROLE IN THAT STORYTELLING-- HIS OWN 1990 MEMOIR, "RIDERS ON THE STORM" WAS A "NEW YORK TIMES" BESTSELLER-- HIS NEW BOOK, "THE SEEKERS: MEETINGS WITH REMARKABLE MUSICIANS," IS AN ATTEMPT TO UNDERSTAND THE FORCES THAT MAKE A STORY LIKE THE DOORS EVEN POSSIBLE.

>> IT'S PRETTY INTERESTING STUFF, THIS CREATIVE ROAD AND WHAT WE'VE LEARNED AND WHAT IT ALL MEANS.

>> Reporter: RELEASED LAST MONTH, THE BOOK OFFERS WHAT DENSMORE CALLS "NOTES ON HOW TO LIVE CREATIVELY ON PLANET EARTH."

WRITING ABOUT HIS INSPIRATION AND ARTISTIC MOTIVATION, DENSMORE CHRONICLES HIS TIME SPENT IN THE COMPANY OF SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST BELOVED MUSICIANS AND CREATIVE FORCES.

FROM WILLIE NELSON TO PATTI SMITH, "THE SEEKERS" OPENS A WINDOW INTO A DISPARATE COLLECTION OF CHARACTERS WHO, IN DENSMORE'S EYES, ARE MORE INTERESTED IN THE CREATIVE PATH, THAN THE PRIZES BESTOWED UPON THEM FOR WHAT THEY HAVE CREATED.

>> I HAD TREMENDOUS SUCCESS IN MY 20s, AND IT'S BEEN DOWNHILL EVER SINCE.

BUT WHAT I LEARNED WAS THAT I GET FED, LIKE, MAYBE PLAYING DRUMS AT A POETRY READING IN A CLUB A YEAR AGO, AS MUCH AS MADISON SQUARE GARDEN IF I'M IN THE MOMENT AND I'M REALLY CONCENTRATING AND THE 12 PEOPLE ARE LISTENING, OR THE 12,000.

YOU KNOW, THE ROAD, THE PATH IS THE KEY, NOT THE GOAL.

>> Reporter: IS IT EASIER TO GET TO THAT SPACE OR EASIER TO MOTIVATE YOURSELF TO GET TO THAT SPACE NOW THAT YOU ARE COGNIZANT OF IT?

>> IT'S INTERESTING.

IN MY OLD AGE, I'VE LEARNED THAT IF I PUT THE RIGHT CYMBAL CRASH IN THE VERY RIGHT SPOT, EXACTLY, IT CAN BE AS POWERFUL AS ALL MY SHOWOFF DRUM ROLLS IN MY 20s.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'M NOT THE FASTEST DRUMMER IN THE WORLD, BUT I'M VERY INTO DYNAMICS AND KNOWING THAT THERE'S SPACE IN BETWEEN THE NOTES AND YOU GOT TO BREATHE.

YOU HEAR A WILLIE NELSON SOLO, AND HE DOESN'T PLAY REAL FAST, BUT IT'S SO MELODIC AND BEAUTIFUL.

IT'S KIND OF-- TO BE HUMAN IS TO HAVE SPACE AND NOT SHOW ALL YOUR STUFF ALL THE TIME.

>> Reporter: BUT AS DENSMORE RECOUNTS, FOR SOME, THE CREATIVE PATH CAN BE DESTRUCTIVE.

HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THAT?

HOW DO YOU FIND THE BALANCE OF THE, KIND OF, THE DARKNESS THAT CAN COME WITH CREATIVITY, WITH THE LIGHT?

>> NOT EVERYBODY HAS CREATIVITY AND SELF-DESTRUCTION IN THE SAME PACKAGE.

I WRITE ABOUT JANIS JOPLIN AND JIM MORRISON, AND THEY DID, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY.

PICASSO LIVED TO 90.

HE DIDN'T.

JANIS AND JIM WERE TEACHERS FOR ME TO BE CAREFUL, BECAUSE I WANT TO BE ON A LONGER ROAD AND THEY BOTH DIED AT 27, AND THE YEARS HAVE HELPED ME SORT OF HEAL THAT AND THINK THAT JIM WAS JUST A SHOOTING STAR, SUPPOSED TO MAKE A QUICK, BIG IMPRESSION.

I TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW NEIL deGRASSE TYSON, THE ASTROPHYSICIST, SAYS THAT ALL THE PLANETS ARE GRAVITATIONALLY PULLING EACH OTHER.

AND SO, AS WE GO AROUND IN OUR ORBITS, EVERYONE IS AFFECTING EVERYONE ELSE, JUST LIKE A MUSICAL ENSEMBLE.

>> Reporter: DENSMORE'S ENSEMBLE IS MUCH SMALLER NOW.

HE AND GUITAR PLAYER ROBBIE KRIEGER ARE NOW THE ONLY SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE DOORS.

KEYBOARDIST RAY MANZAREK DIED IN 2013, WHILE MORRISON HAS BEEN DEAD FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.

THE LAST TIME THE ORIGINAL DOORS LINEUP PLAYED TOGETHER WAS IN 1970, JUST DAYS AFTER DENSMORE TURNED 26.

THINKING OF, AGAIN, THIS THESIS, THIS IDEA OF THE CREATIVE LIFE AND THE PURSUIT OF THE CREATIVE LIFE, IS THERE A CONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE DOORS AND THE THESIS OF WHAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH AND WRESTLING NOW?

>> WHAT IS THE THESIS OF THE DOORS?

( LAUGHS ) WE FOUND EACH OTHER AND CREATED MAGIC OUT OF A GARAGE BIGGER THAN ALL OF US, AND ALL MY FANCY STUFF IN THE EARLY DAYS, YOU KNOW- CRACK!

DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA, LIGHT MY FIRE, WAS AN INCREDIBLE PEAK.

BUT, LIKE I SAID, AFTER PEAKS LIKE THAT, IT'S ALL DOWNHILL.

SO, YOU GOT TO KIND OF ZIGZAG AND NEGOTIATE, AND YOU CAN STILL HAVE A VERY FULFILLING CREATIVE LIFE.

ON WHATEVER LEVEL, IT'S YOUR INNER LIFE THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT.

>> Sreenivasan: FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS WE'VE BEEN BRINGING YOU PERSONAL STORIES FROM MEMBERS OF COMMUNITIES IN CANADA'S NORTHWEST TERRITORY OF YELLOWKNIFE.

THE STORIES, WHICH ADDRESS THE DIFFICULT TOPIC OF ALCOHOL ABUSE, ARE PART OF AN EMPOWERMENT JOURNALISM SERIES CALLED "TURNING POINTS," DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GLOBAL REPORTING CENTER.

TODAY WE HEAR FROM DEVIN HINCHEY, WHO IS MEÉÉTIS, OR OF MIXED INDIGENOUS AND EUROPEAN ANCESTRY, ABOUT HIS ROAD FROM ADDICTION TO RECOVERY.

>> THERE'S NO TYPICAL ALCOHOLIC OR ADDICT.

IT DOESN'T MATTER, YOU KNOW, YOUR ETHNICITY, WHERE YOU COME FROM, THE LIFE THAT YOU'VE LIVED.

I HAD A PRETTY DECENT UPBRINGING.

I DIDN'T HAVE CRAZY, CRAZY STUFF HAPPEN TO ME LIKE A LOT OF MY FRIENDS HAVE LIVED THROUGH, AND I STILL ENCOUNTERED THE SAME ISSUES WITH DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.

WHEN I LEFT YELLOWKNIFE I WENT TO A HIGH SCHOOL WHERE THERE WAS REALLY NO SUPERVISION AND, FOR ME, ALREADY KIND OF EXPERIENCING, LIKE, SOME DEPRESSIVE THOUGHTS.

EVERY NIGHT I'D COME HOME FROM SCHOOL I KNEW THAT I COULD SMOKE WEED OR DRINK AND I'D FEEL BETTER.

COME ON!

>> I THINK I REALLY NOTICED A CHANGE, IT PROBABLY WASN'T 'TIL THE END OF GRADE 12.

WE HAD ONE NIGHT WHERE YOU GOT TRASHED AND YOU HIT ME AND, AND I THINK THAT'S WHEN IT REALLY CLICKED INTO ME THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON.

>> IN THE MIDDLE OF, LIKE, A REALLY DARK ADDICTION, IT'S REALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON WHILE IT'S GOING ON, BUT I THINK TY WAS THE CLOSEST PERSON I GOT TO SAYING THAT, AND BASICALLY TO GET BACK, "WHATEVER YOU NEED," OR, LIKE, "WHATEVER YOU DO, I'M THERE FOR YOU."

AND THEN I WENT TO UNIVERSITY AND THE FIRST HARD DRUG THAT I TRIED WAS ECSTASY, IT WAS M.D.M.A.

AND FROM THERE, IT WAS HONESTLY KIND OF LIKE THE FLOODGATES OPENED.

BY NOVEMBER OF MY FIRST SEMESTER, I WAS USING SOMETHING EVERY DAY.

I STARTED DEVELOPING, UH, LIKE THESE REALLY DARK, KIND OF LIFE- ENDING THOUGHTS.

AND I REMEMBER NEAR THE END OF THAT YEAR, I WAS REALLY HIGH ON M.D.M.A.

AND I REMEMBER BEING IN A CAB AND LOOKING OUTSIDE OF THE WINDOWS AND THE STREETLIGHTS WERE ALMOST, LIKE, STRETCHING OUT.

LIKE, I JUST KIND OF STOPPED FEELING MY HEART BEATING.

LIKE, I COULDN'T FEEL, DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF FEELING IN MY CHEST.

AND I REMEMBER THINKING, LIKE, "I AM OVERDOSING RIGHT NOW."

LIKE, "I AM OVERDOSING ON M.D.M.A.

AND I'M PROBABLY GOING TO DIE."

THAT WAS WHEN IT GOT REALLY, REALLY REAL.

>> I'M GLAD THAT YOU REACHED OUT AND I'M VERY GLAD THAT, THAT IT, IT WASN'T TOO LATE.

>> THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I FELT COMFORTABLE.

YOU KNOW, I'M NOT ALONE AND I'M NOT CRAZY.

I'M NOT INSANE.

AND I'M GOING TO BE AT LEAST ACCEPTED BY SOMEONE IF I GET HELP WITH THIS.

WHEN I WENT TO TREATMENT, IT WAS REALLY FRUSTRATING AT TIMES.

I'M 19, I JUST FAILED OUT OF SCHOOL.

I'VE SPENT A, A TON OF MONEY THAT WASN'T MINE.

STOLE MONEY TO FUND THIS ADDICTION.

WHY COULDN'T I JUST STOP?

LIKE, THAT WAS A LOT OF MY THOUGHTS.

LIKE, "WHY COULDN'T I STOP?"

SO, TREATMENT WAS REALLY GOOD FOR LEARNING THAT ADDICTION AND ALCOHOLISM ARE DISEASES.

AND, LIKE, THE WORD THAT'S USED DAILY IS, LIKE, POWERLESSNESS.

I HAD NO POWER OVER MY ALCOHOLISM, OVER MY ADDICTION.

I THINK THE BIGGEST PART FOR ME, THOUGH, WAS COMING BACK FROM TREATMENT, YOUR RESPONSE WAS LIKE, "WHAT ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH?

WHAT CAN I DO?

WHERE CAN'T WE GO?"

YOU JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND-- >> THE LIMITS.

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT, WHAT WAS GOING TO SET YOU BACK OR WHAT I COULD DO TO HELP YOU MOVE FORWARD.

IT'S HELPED ME, UM, UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT I SEE ISN'T THE WHOLE PICTURE.

LIKE, THERE'S, THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN WHAT PEOPLE ARE SHOWING YOU.

I THINK IT MADE ME A BETTER FRIEND.

IT MADE OUR FRIENDSHIP STRONGER, THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> JUST BECAUSE I'M SOBER OR BECAUSE SOMEONE IS SOBER DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO COMPLETELY CHANGE.

ALL RIGHT, YOU READY?

WHEN I GOT OUT OF TREATMENT, WE WERE TEXTING ABOUT MATCHING TATTOOS.

I THINK IT STARTED OUT HALF AS A JOKE AND YOU SUGGESTED THE INUKSUK.

IN THE PAST TWO YEARS OF MY LIFE, I'VE HAD MORE FUN BEING SOBER THAN I DID EVER.

WELL, I JUST FINISHED, UH, MY UNIVERSITY DIPLOMA, WHICH IS HONESTLY SOMETHING I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SAY.

AND NOW THAT I HAVE THAT, MY NEXT STEP IS GOING TO BE PURSUING A CAREER IN SOCIAL WORK, AND WORKING WITH PEOPLE AND JUST TRYING TO HELP WHOEVER AND WHATEVER I CAN.

I'VE LIVED IN NANAIMO, TORONTO, LONDON, AND YELLOWKNIFE AND YELLOWKNIFE IS A LOT DIFFERENT, ESPECIALLY REGARDING DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.

IT'S SO EASY UP HERE TO GO DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE.

PEOPLE REACT TO DRUG USE DIFFERENTLY UP HERE.

IT'S KNOWN THAT IT'S A PROBLEM AND IT'S, LIKE, ACCEPTED THAT IT'S A PROBLEM, BUT I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A STIGMA AROUND SOBRIETY AND RECOVERY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I SPOKE OUT ABOUT MY STORY, I HAD PEOPLE IN THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY TELLING ME IT WAS A BAD IDEA, LIKE, I SHOULDN'T DO THAT, I SHOULDN'T SPEAK ABOUT THAT.

IF THERE'S ONE PERSON WHO CAN HEAR SOMEONE SHARE A STORY AND THAT URGES THEM TO REACH OUT, WHY IS THAT NOT OKAY?

I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK LIKE I KNOW ALL THE ANSWERS TO HOW TO CHANGE THAT, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED AND THAT CAN BE CHANGED.

>> Sreenivasan: STARTING TOMORROW ON NEWSHOUR A WEEK-LONG SERIES, "SEARCHING FOR JUSTICE," ON THE CHALLENGES FACING THE FORMERLY INCARCERATED BUILDING LIVES OUTSIDE OF PRISON.

CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS.

THAT IS ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND.

FOR THE LATEST NEWS UPDATES VISIT pbs.org/newshour.

I'M HARI SREENIVASAN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY: SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III.

THE ANDERSON FAMILY FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ.

THE CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG.

THE LEONARD AND NORMA KLORFINE FOUNDATION.

CHARLES ROSENBLUM.

WE TRY TO LIVE IN THE MOMENT, TO NOT MISS WHAT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.

AT MUTUAL OF AMERICA, WE BELIEVE TAKING CARE OF TOMORROW CAN HELP YOU MAKE THE MOST OF TODAY.

MUTUAL OF AMERICA FINANCIAL GROUP, RETIREMENT SERVICES AND INVESTMENTS.

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AND BY: AND BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING, A PRIVATE CORPORATION FUNDED BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.