Heroin recovery help difficult to come by in Mass.

BOSTON — Heroin addiction is a life and death struggle, but many who seek help aren’t able to get it. FOX25 found many facilities don’t have enough beds and are having to put people on wait lists.

Some local families are traveling thousands of miles in order to get their loved ones help and keep them alive.

For the past month and a half, Caitlyn Burns has been at a treatment center in Florida recovering from heroin addiction – but home is back here in Massachusetts.

Her sister, Anastasia, had tried to find a local treatment center, but was told it would be at least two weeks until a bed would be available.

For Caitlyn, that news was devastating.

“I was like, ‘there are no beds? I’m just going to keep on doing what I’ve been doing,’” Caitlyn said when asked if no beds would keep her from getting out of her heroin addiction.

Because the first 24 hours is crucial when it comes to treatment, immediate access is critical. Kurt Isaccson is the chief operating officer of Spectrum Health Systems, the largest provider of residential treatment in Massachusetts.

"We just can’t expand quickly enough. We can’t expand as an organization quickly enough,” Isaacson said. “We have done more than any other organization in this state to expand access, but that’s not enough. It’s a systemic issue that has to be addressed.”

Spectrum has 11 treatment centers. The largest of which is in Westborough and can treat 104 patients at a time.

But even that isn’t enough.

The Westborough facility accepts about 18 new patients a week, but their waiting list can have up to 200 people on it at any given point.

Anastasia knew her sister couldn't wait that long, so she turned to Billy Pfaff, the founder of "Heroin is Killing My Town." Pfaff shared his mission with FOX25 back in December, telling us about his quest to help people get the treatment they need.

“We don’t have a couple of hours to help save them – never mind a week wait,” Pfaff said. “We need to get them into help that day, immediately – no matter what time of day it is. And what happens if that doesn’t happen? The death toll is going up and we aren’t stopping the cycle.”

Because Pfaff couldn’t find a bed for Caitlyn here in Massachusetts, they flew to Florida where she’s been ever since. Isaacson says continued care is critical.

“But if you’re coming from out-of-state, there is not a true incentive for that facility to refer you to outpatient treatment or secure you a spot in one of those programs,” Isaacson explained.

Caitlyn said relapsing has crossed her mind.

“I am going to take my time before I go back home. It’s not the best place right now. Massachusetts, it’s scary there,” Caitlyn said.

“I love you to the moon and back,” Anastasia said to Caitlyn while the two video chatted. “I’m glad you’re doing so good.”

Caitlyn said she hopes her story shows that many addicts do want help, but that help needs to be easier to find.

“If we put our minds to it, we can do it,” Caitlyn said. “We are some of the smartest people out here and we can definitely accomplish this.”

There’s a proposal in Massachusetts to extend how long someone stays in treatment. Pfaff says that could shorten the wait list. He says a lot of people he’s helped relapse once they leave treatment and then sign up for additional treatment.

Pfaff is working with state Sen. Mike Brady, who represents Second Plymouth and Bristol Districts. Brady has filed legislation to extend rehabilitation time from 14 days to 30 days.

Cox Media Group