>> MY FAVORITE THING IS ICE CREAM.

I ALSO LIKE THE ICE CREAM THE BEST.

>> THEY HAVE LOCAL, GARDEN, LOCAL GARDENS, THEY SELL LIKE IN A BAG.

IT'S PHENOMENAL.

>> MY FAVORITE THING IS PROBABLY YOU ARE LOOKING AT IT RIGHT THERE.

I THOUGHT, SUMMER IS HERE.

SO THAT MEANS SOFT ICE CREAM.

THAT'S A GREAT I WANT INVENTION.

I LIKE BEING ABLE TO GEE -- GOING OUT TO THE GARDEN AND STUFF.

>> LIKE A VARIETY OF THINGS.

THE MOTTO IS IF WE DON'T HAVE IT, NEN YOU DON'T NEED IT.

>> DAN AND WHIT'S IS MY GENERAL STORE.

MY FAVORITE THINGS ARE CHIPS, CANDY, AND BAGELS.

THEY GAVE US THE INSIDE LOOK ON DAN AND WHIT'S.

THIS IS DAN AND WHIT.

AND THIS IS MY DAD, JACK AND GEORGE, WHICH IS MY GRANDPARENTS' CHILDREN.

>> DAN AND HIS FAMILY HAVE OWNED THIS STORE FOR ABOUT 100 YEARS.

>> EVEN THOUGH IT MIGHT SEEM LIKE A SLEEPY TOWN WE HAVE HAD SOME EXCITING MOMENTS.

THIS WAS THE OLD SCALE OF THE OLD SAFE IN THE OFFICE.

AND IN THE EARLY 1970s THEY BROKE INTO THE STORE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND STOLE THE MONEY, AND THIS WAS MERRILL'S SAFE, AND IT WAS MERRILL'S GENERAL STORE BEFORE IT WAS DAN AND WHIT'S, SO THEY SPENT SIX OR SEVEN HOURS IN THE STORE AND THEY JACKHAMMERED THE DOOR OFF THE SAFE AND STOLE THE MONEY OUT OF IT.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE PLACES WHERE THE HEAT COMES UP FROM DOWNSTAIRS, AND I WILL SHOW YOU THE STOVE WHEN WE GET DOWN THERE >> THIS HEATS THE BACK ROOM.

AND OVER HERE, THESE WOOD PILES, IF IT'S A COLD WINTER, WE WILL USE ALL THOSE WOOD PILES FOR THE STOVE.

THERE IS NO BACKUP HEAT.

SO EVERYTHING IS HERE.

THIS IS THE WINE CELLAR, IT STAYS THE TEMPERATURE YEAR-AROUND.

AND YOU CAN SEE ON HERE THE FOUNDATION WAS MADE BY STONE, AND SOMEONE IN THE 1800s, THEY PUT FOUNDATION ON TOP OF THE STONE DOWN HERE.

OVER THIS WAY WE HAVE -- THIS IS THE WEST, THE SUNSETS IN THE WEST AND THE CALIFORNIA IS IN THE WEST SO I KEEP THE CALIFORNIA WINE IN THIS ROOM SO YOU CAN FIND IT.

>> DAN HAS BEEN ROBBED FROM THE CELLAR TO THE ROOF.

WE USED TO HAVE TWO WINDOWS HERE.

AND ONE NIGHT SOME KIDS BROKE IN, AND THEY -- THE POLICE SAID THAT WE SHOULD BOARD UP THE WINDOWS SINCE THEY WERE NOT FACING THE STREET.

SO THE KIDS GOT OUT THE WINDOWS AND JUMPED OFF THE BACK OF THE BUILDING AND BROKE HIS BACK.

SO.

IF YOU LOOK BEHIND THESE SHOES, THERE IS AN ARCH, A DOORWAY THAT WAS RIGHT HERE.

AND THAT WAS A CATWALK SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE STAYED THERE, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE AND SEE THE SHOWS, AND THE INN BURNED DOWN, AND THEY REBUILT THE CATWALK BUT IF YOU GO BETWEEN THE INN AND THE STORE YOU LOOK ALONG THE OUTSIDE YOU WILL SEE WHERE THIS WAS, ABOVE ON THE SECOND FLOOR, AND THAT'S WHY THE BUILDING IS SO CLOSE TOGETHER, SO THE GUESTS WOULD NOT HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE, THEY COME IN HERE AND WATCH THE SHOW AND WALK RIGHT BACK OUT.

SO THAT IS DAN AND WHIT'S IN A NUTSHELL, ANY MORE QUESTIONS?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK SO.

>> THAT'S THE STORY OF DAN AND WHIT'S, WHICH IS THE HEART OF OUR TOWN.

>> IF THEY DON'T HAVE IT, YOU DON'T NEED IT.

>> BYE.

>> INSIDE MY HEART.

THERE IS A LEMON.

I GO THERE WHEN THE WORLD IS TOO MUCH.

TO GET THERE I TRAVEL DOWN MY SPINE TO MY THROAT, AND THEN DOWN INTO MY HEART.

WHEN I GET TO THE LEMON, I PUT ON MY GOGGLES.

SO ACID DOESN'T GET IN MY EYES.

IT IS SAFE AND WARM.

INSIDE THE LEMON I AM SAFE.

WHEN IT IS TIME TO COME OUT, I TAKE OFF MY GOGGLES AND TRAVEL UP THROUGH MY VEINS.

AND THROAT.

AND SPINE.

AND BLINK, MY LEMON EYES.

>> I THINK IT IS HARD, OPENING UP AND GIVING A PIECE OF YOURSELF TO SOMEONE YOU DON'T KNOW OR THEY DON'T KNOW YOU, AND HELPING TO IMPACT A LIFE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

I USE VIDEO AS AN EXTENSION OF MYSELF T INSPIRE PEOPLE AND TO TELL MY STORY AND HOPEFULLY INSPIRE PEOPLE TO DO THE SAME AND INSPIRE PEOPLE TO FOLLOW THEIR PASSION AND WHAT MAKES THEM HAPPY JUST LIKE I AM TRYING TO DO TO MYSELF.

IF PICK THE ONE THING I LOVE MOST WITHOUT IT MAKING VIDEOS, IT'S THAT THERE IS NEVER A MOMENT THAT YOU ARRIVE AND YOU KNOW EVERYTHING, YOU ARE ALWAYS BUILDING YOUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHY.

YOU ARE ALWAYS LEARNING EACH AND EVERY DAY.

AND THERE IS NEVER A DULL >> WHEN I WAS YOUNGER A LIVED A NORMAL LIFE.

I PLAYED SPORTS.

I WENT TO SCHOOL.

I HAD TONS OF FRIENDS.

I PROBABLY HAD WHAT PEOPLE WOULD SAY A PERFECT LIFE.

BUT WHEN I WAS TEN YEARS OLD, THAT ALL ENDED.

BECAUSE SOMETHING THAT I HAD NEVER THOUGHT WOULD HAPPEN, HAPPENED.

I GOT PICKED UP BY MY DAD AT SCHOOL, AND IT WAS WEIRD BECAUSE MY DAD NEVER PICKED ME UP AT SCHOOL BECAUSE I ONLY SAW HIM ON THE WEEKENDS.

MY MOM PICKED ME UP ON WEEKDAYS.

AND HE HAD TO SIT ME DOWN AND TELL ME THAT MY MOM HAD PASSED AWAY THAT MORNING.

IT WAS ROUGH FOR ME BECAUSE I SPENT ALL MY TIME WITH MY MOM.

WE DID EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

SHE WENT TO ALL MY GAMES.

IT JUST -- I NEVER UNDERSTOOD HOW SHE COULD ABANDON ME LIKE THAT.

AND THEN AFTER THAT HAPPENED, IT MADE ME DAD CHANGE, TOO.

FOUR YEARS LATER HE ENDED UP MOVING TO NEW YORK AND LEAVING ME ALONE WITH THAT.

I WAS 14 AT THE TIME.

SO I WAS STARTING HIGH SCHOOL.

OBVIOUSLY, BEING 14, YOU JUST BECOME A TEENAGER, AND YOU HAVE TWO WAYS YOU CAN GO, AND I CHOSE THE WRONG WAY.

AND SO MY FRESHMEN HERE I FAILED ALMOST ALL MY CLASSES.

I HAD TO GO TO SUMMER SCHOOL.

I HUNG OUT WITH THE WRONG PEOPLE I WAS SMOKING AND DOING ALL OF THAT STUFF AT THE AGE OF 14.

AND I GOT SENT OUT OF CLASS LITERALLY EVERY CLASS JUST BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO BE THERE.

AND I WOULD LITERALLY WALK INTO THE CLASS AND DO SOMETHING TO GET KICKED OUT AND SAY, I AM GOING TO THE OFFICE.

IF IT WASN'T FOR VERMONT AND THE PEOPLE, THAT I REALIZED WERE THERE FOR ME, I DON'T THINK THAT I EVER WOULD HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF THAT BAD SPOT.

IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ANYWHERE ELSE, I DON'T THINK THAT I WOULD HAVE HAD THE SUPPORT THAT I DID IN VERMONT BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNEW MY MOM AND THEY ALL CARED ABOUT HER.

AND THEY ALL SAID THAT THEY WERE SORRY, BUT THERE WERE A FEW PEOPLE IN MY LIFE THAT HELPED ME TO TURN IT AROUND.

AND THEY ARE STILL THERE FOR ME TODAY.

AND THE MAIN TURNING POINT WAS MY SOPHOMORE YEAR, I HAD THIS CHEMISTRY CLASS WITH A TEACHER NAMED MR.

FRIT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

I GOT 103% IN THAT CLASS.

AND EVER SINCE THEN MY GRADES WENT UP.

AND NOW I AM A SENIOR.

I HAVE A 3.6 GPA.

I AM DOING AMAZING IN SCHOOL.

VERMONT IS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER STATES, SO HIKING AND GOING ON DRIVES ON DIRT ROADS, AND SKIING AND GOING ON ADVENTURES THAT YOU PROBABLY COULDN'T DO IF I LIVED IN LIKE SOME CITY IN A BIGGER STATE.

I JUST WENT TO -- I DON'T THINK THAT I WOULD HAVE HAD THE SUPPORT OR THE PEOPLE TO HELP ME THROUGH THIS, BUT I DID.

AND THIS FILM IS AS MUCH AS ABOUT VERMONT, IT IS ALSO ABOUT THEM AND THE PEOPLE IN VERMONT THAT HELPED ME GET THROUGH ALL OF THIS.

FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF, I WAS OKAY.

I WOULD NOT SAY THAT I WAS FINE OR GOOD.

BUT I WAS IN AN OKAY SPOT.

AND THEN THE SENIOR YEAR I STARTED TO THINK MORE AND MORE ABOUT HOW MY OWN, LIKE, MY OWN PARENTS HAD LEFT ME, AND ACTUALLY IT STARTED TO HURT BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE'S PARENTS WERE GOING TO BE AT GRADUATION.

AND I WAS GOING TO BE THERE, AND I WASN'T GOING TO HAVE PARENTS TO TUG ME OR TAKE PICTURES OF ME AND I REALIZED THAT I WILL HAVE A GIRLFRIEND, MY GRANDPARENTS, TONS OF FRIENDS.

TEACHERS.

JUST -- THEY ALL HELPED ME TO GET TO THAT POINT, AND THEY ARE NOT JUST GOING TO PUT ALL OF THAT WORK IN AND NOT CELEBRATE THAT ACHIEVEMENT WITH ME BECAUSE THEY DID IT TO GET ME TO THAT POINT.

I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE SMALL COMMUNITY LIKE VERMONT YOU GET SPECIAL CHANCES LIKE I DID, AND YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE TO HELP YOU, OR MULTIPLE PEOPLE TO HELP YOU.

YOU DON'T JUST GET TO SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS.

I AM THANKFUL THAT I LIVE IN VERMONT FOR THAT REASON, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IF I LIVED ANYWHERE ELSE, I PROBABLY COULDN'T HAVE >> A COUPLE YEARS AGO THE GUYS SET UP TO FIND THE BEST DRIVING LOAD IN THE WORLD KNOWING IT WOULD BE SOMEWHERE IN EUROPE THEY TESTED A GROUP OF SPECIAL SUPER CARS ON MULTIPLE ROADS, THAT FINALLY SETTLED ON THIS, THE SYLVIA PASS, 15 MILES OF WINDING ROAD DOWN THE ITALIAN ALPS.

>> EVER SINCE I WATCHED THAT VIDEO I HAVE WANTED TO FIND THE BEST DRIVING ROAD, AND I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.

>> SO IN ACCORDANCE TO MY BUDGET I COULDN'T REALLY GO ANYWHERE THAT I WANTED SO I HAD TO STAY AROUND NORTH SIDE AMERICA AND IN THE GENERAL VERMONT AREA, BUT SINCE IT IS BIG I HAVE TO FOCUS ON THIS PIN DROP, WHICH IS THE UPPER VALLEY.

HOLD ON, THOUGH, WE STILL NEED OUR CAR, ON THE SHOW THEY FEATURED A 550-HORSEPOWER LAMBORGHINI, A TRACK READY PORTION 911, GTWR1, AND A V8 VANTAGE AND 24 RACE CAR.

NEEDLESS TO SAY I DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ANY OF THESE.

THEY HAVE CARS THAT WEIGH LESS THAN 3,000 POUNDS, MY COMES IN AT 500 MORE THAN THE HEAVIEST OF THE BATCH.

WHILE THEY HAVE CARS THAT COST UP TO 250,000, MINE WAS 30 GRAND WHEN IT WAS BRAND NEW SEVEN YEARS AGO.

HOWEVER I DO HAVE THE MOST POWERFUL ENGINE THAT SUBARU PROVIDES IN THE LINEUP SHARED WITH THE TOP SPECK SUBARU IMPREZA, I HAVE 265 HORSES READY TO SPRINT AT THE COMMAND OF MY RIGHT FOOT AND SIX SPEED MANUAL SPEED.

THE LOOKS THAT WOULD NOT GIVE AWAY THE 0-60 TIME TO THE PASSERBY BY AN OFFICER.

ENOUGH OVERVIEW, LET'S GO ON THE TO THE ROAD.

WELL GO TO GODFREY ROAD, WHICH IS 4.1 MILES START ANYTHING A CONCRETE SECTION BUT ENDING IN A PRETTY TWISTY, MUDDY, FUN DIRT SECTION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE START OUR DAY IN LESS THAN IDEAL CONDITIONS.

BUT WE ARE AT THE HEAD OF GODFREY ROAD.

A BIT OF WASHOUT.

YOU HAVE GOT TO DO ABOUT TWO MINUTES OF DRIVING ON IT.

OR YOU HIT THE GOOD PART.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT TWO MINUTES OVER WITH.

ALL RIGHT.

SO IT GETS NICE AND WINDY DOWN HERE.

AND THERE ARE A COUPLE REALLY NICE THINGS.

IF ANOTHER CAR GOES THE OTHER WAY YOU HAVE GOT TO IMPROVISE.

>> NOT FAR AWAY A SERIES OF CONNECTING ROADS ENDING IN THIS AREA, 3.5 MILES, COMPRISED OF AN ALL DIRT WINDY SURFACE.

>> SO WE ARE ON NEW BOSTON ROAD RIGHT NOW, AND IT IS HALLOWEEN, SO I HAVE JEFF WITH ME, SAY HI, JEFF, I I WILL NOW SEE NEW BOSTN ROAD IS THE BEST DRIVING ROAD IN THE UPPER VALLEY.

AND WE ARE OFF.

SO THIS ROAD IS VERY LONG THIS IS TWISTY, WINDY CAMERA.

SO THIS ROAD YOU CAN DRIVE, YOU CAN DRIVE FAST OR SLOW OR ANYTHING THAT YOU DO YOU WILL HAVE A GOOD TIME AND SEE SOME NICE VIEWS.

OH, THAT FELT TERRIBLE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS ABOUT THIS ROAD, A LOT OF TIMES DRIVING HERE IS AVOIDING NASTY POTHOLES.

SOME OF THESE CORPSES ARE -- CORNERS ARE SO NICE TO TAKE.

THIS HELPS OUT A LOT WITH THAT.

SUBARU KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING WITH THIS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM.

HOWEVER I DON'T APPARENTLY KNOW WHAT I AM DOING WITH MY CAMERA.

THE POTHOLE, THEY ARE HARD TO AVOID BECAUSE THEY ARE RIGHT IN THE WAY OF YOUR CAR.

>> OKAY.

THE PATROL ROAD IN NORWICH, WHICH KIND OF WENT TO A MORE INTERESTING PLACE IN MY HEART BECAUSE IT'S WHERE I HAD MY FIRST CAR ACCIDENT.

AND WE'LL GET TO THAT.

SO WE'RE HIT THINKING AREA IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON, AND IT'S THE WORST TIME TO HIT THAT ROAD BESIDES THE DEAD OF WINTER, SO IF IT CAN REDEEM ITSELF, WITH, YOU KNOW, THE MUD, THE CAR ACCIDENT, STILL BE FUN, THEN I GUESS WHATEVER ANSWER.

ALL RIGHT.

GOING ONTO PATRELL.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S A MIX OF FRESHLY FALLEN SNOW AND SOME AWFUL MUD.

IT'S A THIN ROAD, BUT THE VIEWS FROM THE TOP OF THIS LITTLE HILL ARE ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.

YOU CAN SEE ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING IN THE UPPER VALLEY.

YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF THE UPPER VALLEY FROM UP HERE.

IF YOU CLOSE THIS OFF, AND MADE IT LIKE A RALLY STAGE, THIS WOULD BE THE PERFECT -- IT WOULD BE INCREDIBLE.

>> I ALSO LIKE THIS ROAD BECAUSE IT'S EASIER TO ENJOY IT.

GOING SLOW.

AND AFTER ABOUT SEVEN MINUTES OF DRIVING, WE'RE OUT.

>> ON DECEMBER 27, 2017, MY CAR WAS ABOUT THREE, FOUR FEET THAT WAY.

IN THE DITCH.

I CAME AROUND THAT CORNER, SAW HIM COMING THE OTHER WAY, HIT MY BRAKES, AND VEERED INTO THE DITCH.

AND HE CAME TOWARDS ME.

MADE CONTACT HERE.

AND SLID ALL THE WAY DOWN THE SIDE.

MY BACK, I BACKED INTO THE DITCH AND I COULDN'T GET OUT.

NOT A FUN DAY.

SO IT IS NOW TIME TO FINALLY REVIEW WHO WILL WIN THE NOT SO COVETED TITLE OF BEST DRIVING ROAD IN THE UPPER VALLEY.

THIS HAS BEEN A WILD RIDE, A GREAT EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW.

WE HAVE HAD SOME CASUALTIES.

IN THE EYES OF A STRANGER FAR AWAY FROM HERE >> I THINK THAT ALL IN ALL, THE TITLE OF BEST DRIVING ROAD WILL GO TO DRUMROLL, PLEASE.

PATRELL ROAD IN NORWICH.

I HAVE MADE FOR YOU A TROPHY DEPICTING THE OTHER GUY'S CAR COMING AND HITTING MINE AND ME SWERVING INTO THE DITCH AND HIM COMING TOWARDS ME.

YES, NO.

THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

AND I AM -- I ENDED UP LEARNING MORE FROM IT THAN I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO HAVE A KIND OF OUTPUT OR A VENTURE TO CREATE THIS.

>> I'VE BEEN HERE ABOUT 21 YEARS, AND SO TO GIVE YOU THE SCOPE OF WHAT'S GOING ON, IT'S BEEN FRANKLY EYE OPENING, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN, CROSS ALL DEMOGRAPHICS, ACROSS ALL RISK-TAKING VERSIONS OR APPETITES, WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE USE OF OPIATES.

>> AN EPIDEMIC THAT IS SWEEPING OUR COUNTRY AND SWEEPING THE STATE OF VERMONT.

THIS IS A VERY SIGNATURE INCREASE THAT WE ARE SEEING IN OPIOIDS AND HEROIN ADDICTION AND IN DRUG OVERDOSES.

>> 2006, 63,000 DEATHS ATTRIBUTABLE TO DRUG OVERDOSES.

42,000 OF THEM, OR TWO-THIRDS OF THEM, WERE SPECIFICALLY ATTRIBUTED, ATTRIBUTABLE TO OPIOIDS.

20,000, MORE THAN HALF, WERE ATTRIBUTABLE TO FENTANYL.

>> WE ARE AN EPIDEMIC IN THIS COUNTRY THAT WE HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

>> SO FOR ME PERSONALLY THE HARDEST THING FOR ME HAS BEEN WITNESSING THE DIRECT IMPACT THIS EPIDEMIC HAS HAD ON THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, BOTH THE VICTIMS AND THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS.

WE SEE CONDITIONS RANGING ANYWHERE FROM AS SEVERE AS BEING DEAD ON ARRIVAL, SO PATIENTS ARE BROUGHT IN DEAD ON ARRIVAL AND DECLARED DEAD IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.

AND A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE ARE YOUNG.

THEY HAVE HEALTHY AND STRONG HEARTS, SO THEY ARE BROUGHT BACK WITH C.P.R BUT BY THE TIME THAT THEIR HEARTS ARE BROUGHT BACK WITH CPR, THEIR BRAIN HAS SUSTAINED SUCH A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF INJURY FROM NOT HAVING OXYGEN AND BLOOD DELIVERED TO IT THAT IT, IN A FEW DAYS, THEY ARE DECLARED BRAIN DEAD AND THEY BECOME ORGAN DONORS ORE DECLARED DEAD.

>> SO OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN A 144% INCREASE IN DECEASED ORGAN DONORS DYING FROM DRUG OVERDOSE.

SO TO LAST YEAR, WE HAD OVER 10,000 ARREST -- ORGAN DONORS, BUT IT WAS A RECORD YEAR.

UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS DIFFERENT MECHANISMS FOR DEATH, AND THE MECHANISM THAT INCREASED THE MOST WAS DRUG INTOXICATION.

1,000, OVER 1,300 OF THOSE DEATHS WAS RELATED TO DRUG INTOXICATION, AND AS OPPOSED TO TEN YEARS AGO WHERE IT WAS MAYBE LESS THAN 300.

>> TWO YEARS AGO, WE HAD PEOPLE, PRIMARILY, OVERDOSING ON HEROIN, NOW WE HAVE PEOPLE OVERDOSING ON FENTANYL, WHICH IS 50 TO 100 TIMES STRONGER THAN HEROIN.

WE HAVE SEEN FENTANYL LACED IN MARIJUANA.

AS WELL AS LACED WITHIN HEROIN.

AND WE LOST MORE PEOPLE.

>> FENTANYL IS IN VERMONT.

YOU CAN'T REALLY -- I HAVE SPOKEN WITH UNDERCOVER AGENTS IN VERMONT.

THERE REALLY IS NO HEROIN.

THAT'S PURE HEROIN LEFT IN VERMONT.

THERE IS HEROIN ADULTERATED WITH FENTANYL.

AND SOMETIMES THE OVERDOSE IS IMMEDIATE.

>> WE DIDN'T SEE ANY SIGN OF TROUBLE, I THINK, WHEN HE WOULD BE ON TRIAL.

IN RETROSPECT HE MAY HAVE HAD SOME MOOD SWINGS THAT WERE INDICATIVE OF HIS BIPOLAR DISORDER WHICH WAS DIAGNOSED LATER.

BUT CERTAINLY WHEN HE WAS YOUNG, ALL WE SAW WAS A LOT OF ENERGY AND A LOT OF -- A LOT OF JOY.

HE WAS VERY HAPPY, AND HE WAS REALLY ACTIVE IN SCHOOL AND IN THE SKI TEAM.

HE RACED FOR SOUTH BURLINGTON, AND HE WAS CO-CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM WHEN HE WAS A JUNIOR.

FROM AN EARLY AGE, SEAN REALLY LIKED MUSIC, AND POETRY.

HE STARTED TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH HIS GRADES PRIMARILY.

THAT'S WHEN WE NOTICED A PROBLEM.

I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS FOR US THAT WE, YOU KNOW, LOOKED BACK ON IN RETROSPECT IS THAT THERE WAS A TIME FRAME DURING HIS CLASS WHERE HE WAS ABLE TO LEAVE THE SCHOOL CAMPUS FROM LIKE ONE TO TWO OR SO, SO HE HAD LIKE AN HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF FREE TIME THAT WE WERE UNAWARE THAT HE WAS GOING TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE TO SMOKE POT.

WITH HIS BIPOLAR DISORDER THAT TRIGGERED AN EPISODE OF MINE -- MANIA.

I FEEL LIKE HIS FIRST EPISODE HAPPENED WHEN HE WAS A SENIOR.

AND YOU KNOW, YOU KIND OF -- HE WENT INTO FREE FALL.

HE BARELY GRADUATED, AND HE WAS PATRIOTIC.

SO HE ENROLLED IN THE NAVY.

AGAIN HIS MANIC EPISODES STARTED TO GET TRIGGERED WITH MARION.

THINGS STARTED TO GET SHAKY WITH HIS ABILITY TO STAY IN THE NAVY.

WE WERE NOT SURE IF HE WOULD BE ABLE TO OR IF THEY WOULD LET HIM GAIMP HIS MENTAL -- GIVEN HIS ML HEALTH, AND THAT'S WHEN HE STARTED TO USE A STRONGER DRUG, AND WE THINK THAT THAT'S WHEN HE MAY HAVE STARTED TO USE OPIATES.

AND THEN WE HAD A SERIES OF EVENTS WHERE AGAIN, WHERE I FEEL LIKE HE WAS PRETTY MANIC WHERE HE BROKE INTO OUR HOUSE.

HE BROKE INTO MY OFFICE AND STOLE PRESCRIPTION PADS AND CHECKS.

LUCKIY THE GIRLFRIEND WHO HE WAS WITH RETURNED EVERYTHING BECAUSE HE COULD HAVE GOTTEN IN REAL TROUBLE WITH THAT, BUT HE DID CASH A CHECK FOR $300.

I SAID TO MY COLLEAGUE, I SAID I REALLY WANT YOU TO PRESS CHARGES.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, HE THOUGHT THINGS ARE OUT OF CONTROL, AND THIS MIGHT, I HAVE TO SAY THIS MIGHT BE THE ONLY THING THAT SAVES HIS LIFE.

THAT WAS PROBABLY THE HARDEST DECISION THAT WE EVER MADE WAS TO PRESS CHARGES.

HOWEVER IT HAD BEEN, YOU KNOW, THAT PARTICULAR SEVERAL MONTH TIME FRAME SHAWN WAS FOUND IN THE STREET WITH ALL OF THIS LSD ON HIM.

HE DID NOT KNOW WHERE HE WAS.

HE WAS HALLUCINATING.

HE THOUGHT THAT HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE GRATEFUL DEAD.

THERE WERE SEVERAL EPISODES LIKE THIS WHERE HE WAS REALLY IN HARM'S WAY.

WE OFFERED FOR HIM TO GO TO CALIFORNIA AGAIN OR TO MINNESOTA FOR A LONG-TERM REHAB.

WE OFFERED TO PAY FOR IT.

AND DESPITE, YOU KNOW, THINKING THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A LOT OF MONEY OUT OF MY RETIREMENT ACCOUNT TO PAY FOR THAT, HE DID NOT WANT TO DO THAT.

HE SAID TO ME VERY SPECIFICALLY HE SAID YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO BE FREE.

I JUST WANT MY FREEDOM.

I DID HEAR FROM HIM THE DAY BEFORE HE DIED AND HE SOUNDED GOOD.

HE WANTED TO HAVE DINNER WITH US THE NEXT DAY, AND WE MADE PLANS.

AND IT WAS THAT DAY, TUESDAY, THAT I TRIED CALLING HIM.

AND HE DID NOT ANSWER.

AND WE THINK THAT AT THE TIME THAT WE WERE CALLING HIM WAS ABOUT THE TIME THAT HE USED SOMETHING.

SHAWN'S FRIENDS THAT DAY HAD NO SUSPICION OF HIM USING OPIATES.

THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD BEEN PARTYING A BIT.

I HAVE A REALLY NICE PICTURE OF HIM AN HOUR BEFORE HE DIED.

HE LOOKS HAPPY, AT PEACE.

HE LOOKED LIKE HE WAS HAVING A GOOD TIME.

THEY SAID THAT HE WENT INTO THE BATHROOM TO CHANGE HIS CLOTHES AND GET READY TO MEET US FOR DINNER.

AND THAT'S WHEN HE PASSED OUT.

>> IN TALKING WITH FAMILIES WHEN WE APPROACH FOR ORGAN DONATION THE RESPONSE THAT WE GET IS I FEARED THIS DAY WAS COMING.

I FEARED THIS PHONE CALL.

SO IT WAS NOT EVEN A QUESTION OF IF IT WOULD HAPPEN, NOW IT'S A QUESTION OF WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN.

THESE PARENTS HAVE, THESE PARENTS AND SIBLINGS HAVE DEALT WITH THESE ISSUES FOR MANY YEARS, AND NOW I AM APPROACHING THEIR, APPROACHING THEIR WHOLE FAMILY BECAUSE THEIR LOVED ONE HAS JUST DIED FROM A DRUG OVERDOSE.

>> IT STARTED IN 2016, 2017 THERE WERE 120 TO 130 DRUG RELATED FATALITIES.

THAT'S JUST DRUG RELATED FATALITIES IN THE STATE.

120 TO 130 PEOPLE, THAT'S SOMEONE DYING EVERY THREE DAYS FROM A DRUG RELATED EVENT.

>> WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE AS A SOCIETY THAT PEOPLE HAVE AN ADDICTION.

THIS IS A CHRONIC HEALTH DISEASE.

AND PEOPLE NEED TO ERASE THE SHAME AND STIGMA THAT'S ATTACHED TO THIS DISEASE SO THAT PEOPLE WILL COME FORWARD AND GET TREATMENT.

I THINK THAT'S FIRST.

SECOND WE NEED TO SPEND A LOT MORE MONEY THAN WE ARE SPENDING ON PREVENTION.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT TREATMENT AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO REALLY GET PEOPLE TO THE SERVICES THEY NEED, BUT THIS IS AN EPIDEMIC.

AND HOW WE NEED TO REALLY PUT A HOLD IS TO DUMP IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO PREVENTION SO THAT YOUNG PEOPLE DO NOT START USING AT AN EARLY AGE.

AND CONTINUE THE CYCLE.

>> NOBODY WANTED TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD OF ADDICTION, NOBODY WANTED TO END UP HOMELESS OR IN JAIL OR ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO YOU WHEN YOU START USING DRUGS.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU TAKE THOSE MEDICATIONS THAT, OR SUBSTANCES THAT MIGHT FEEL -- YOU MIGHT FEEL GOOD FOR A WHILE BUT PRETTY SOON THAT EMPTINESS THAT YOU HAVE IS GOING TO RETURN.

AND NO SUBSTANCE CAN FIX THAT FOR YOU.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO FIX ON YOUR OWN.

AND THERE IS A LOT OF HELP AVAILABLE OUT THERE IF YOU NEED IT.

AS A SOCIETY I FEEL WE ARE STRUGGLING WITH EMPOWERING OUR CHILDREN TO BE HEALTHY.

SHAWN HAD SOMETHING INSIDE OF HIM THAT FELT EMPTY, AND HE FILLED THAT WITH INITIALLY JUST SMOKING POT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT SEEMS LIKE NO BIG DEAL BUT IT WENT DOWN ANOTHER PATH.

IT TOOK AWAY HIS HOPES AND DREAMS.

>> LOOKING BACK TO WHEN I WAS A FRESHMEN IN HIGH SCHOOL THROUGHOUT COLLEGE, IF SOMEONE HAD COME UP TO ME AND SAID LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD REALLY STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING, I WOULD HAVE LAUGHED AT THEM AND SAID THAT'S SO SILLY LIKE THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ME.

I WAS TOTALLY BLIND TO THERE BEING A PROBLEM, BUT UNTIL I, YOU KNOW, I LEARNED THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO COULD HELP ME AND CERTAIN THINGS THAT I COULD GET INVOLVED IN THAT WOULD HELP ME TO KEEP MY MIND OFF OF THE SUBSTANCES AND GET ON WITH MY LIFE, SO LOOKING BACK I TELL THEM YOU CAN SAVE YOURSELF A LOT OF MISERY AND GRIEF, YOU KNOW, BY CUTTING OUT USING DRUGS AND ALCOHOL AND YOU CAN GET SO MUCH MORE OUT OF LIFE LIVING SOBER, AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING FOR -- IT WILL BE TWO YEARS IN MAY.

AND LIFE HAS JUST BEEN SO MUCH BETTER.

>> THE.

>> IT STARTS WITH THIS INSIDE OF A MAPLE TREE.

PERHAPS AS THE DAY BECAME WARM AFTER THE FROSTY NIGHT, THE CONTRAST IN THE TEMPERATURE CAUSED THIS TO BE, AND IT PROVIDED AN OPENING TO GO INTO A CONTAINER THAT HAPPENED TO BE BELOW.

THEY THOUGHT THE CONTAINER WAS FILLED WITH SPRING WATER AND SHE MADE IT AS PART OF THEIR MEAL.

IMAGINE YOUR SURPRISE WHEN THE WATER TURNED TO SYRUP, AND THE MIRACLE OF MAPLE SYRUP WAS DISCOVERED.

MAPLE SYRUP PRODUCTION IS ONE OF A FEW LIFELINES FROM VERMONT'S CULTURAL HERITAGE PRODUCTION.

VERMONT IS THE LARGEST MAPLE SYRUP PRODUCER IN THE UNITED STATES AND IS KNOWN FOR ITS HIGH QUALITY AND INCREDIBLY TASTING Captioning Performed By LNS Captioning www.LNScaptioning.com THE PROCESS OF EXTRACTING MAPLE SYRUP FROM THE TREES HAS A FASCINATING MYSTERY FROM THE ORIGINAL ONE TO THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF PLASTIC TUBING AND CONNECTORS.

THAT CAN TAP IS IN ONE CONTINUOUS VEIN.

THEY LEARNED QUICKLY THAT THIS WAS HELPFUL AND THAT HAS BEEN GRADUATED TO THIS SUGAR HOUSE WHERE FARMERS COULD BOIL VAST QUANTITIES AT ONCE.

THE ORIGINAL COLLECTING METHOD WERE BUCKETS AND SNOW SHOES FOLLOWED BY HORSES AND SLEIGHS.

AND NOW REPLACED BY ATVs.

BACKUP SYSTEMS.

AND CLOSE MONITORING OF MOTHER NATURE'S SPRING WEATHER PATTERNS.

LIKE MOST ENGINEERS, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CHALLENGES.

KEEPING THE ART AND PROCESS OF SUGARING ALIVE HAS FORCED PRODUCERS, FARMERS AND LEGISLATORS TO THINK CREATIVELY.

ON THE HEELS OF CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGES THE MOST RECENT MAPLE SYRUP PRODUCTION IS A NEWLY PROPOSED FEDERAL LABELING LAW.

IT WOULD REQUIRE EXTRA WARNINGS ON MAPLE SYRUP ABOUT THE SUGAR CONTENT.

THE NATURALLY PRODUCED MAPLE SYRUP IS CONSIDERED TO BE PURE AND UNADULTERATED AND THE CONCEPT OF LABELING IT WITH AN ADDED SUGAR LABEL STRUCK A SOUR NOTE WITH SUGAR-MAKERS AND VERMONTERS ALIKE.

THE BEETLES HAVE CONSUMED FORESTS ACROSS THE NORTHERN UNITED STATES AND HAS BEEN FOUND AS CLOSE BY AS MASSACHUSETTS.

THE COORDINATED EFFORTS TO ERADICATE THE BEETLE ARE SHOWING POSITIVE RESULTS.

IN MASSACHUSETTS THEY HAVE BEEN FUELED BY A GRATEFUL PANCAKE BREAKFAST WITH MAPLE SYRUP.

DNATED BY VERMONT SUGAR MAKERS.

EVEN THE HISTORY OF VERMONTERS, AND THEIR AGRICULTURAL VENTURES, THERE IS HOPE THAT THE DELICIOUS AND AMAZING TRADITION OF MAKING MAPLE SYRUP WILL SURVIVE AND CONTINUE TO FLOURISH AS LONG AS THERE ARE FROSTY NIGHTS AND Captioning Performed By LNS Captioning www.LNScaptioning.com >> VERMONT PBS, PARTNERING WITH LOCAL FILM-MAKERS TO BRING YOU STORIES MADE HERE.