ON TONIGHT’S STATE OF ADDICTION, ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER SASHA LENNINGER INTRODUCES US TO A DEPUTY WHO WHO LOST HIS ONLY CHILD TO A DRUG OVERDOSE. SASHA: IT’S A BLUE BIRD DAY, THE SUN SHINING BRIGHT. BUT FOR CAPTAIN BILLY MERRIFIELD, CLOUDS BLOCKING THAT SUNSHINE WHILE VISITING HIS DAUGHTER’S GRAVE, THINKING, HOW DID HE GET HERE. HE LOST IS DAUGHTER TOO SOON TO THE DRUG EPIDEMIC THAT IS NOW PLAGUING NEW MEXICO. >> NONE OF US WILL EVER KNOW WHAT SHE WOULD HAVE DONE, OR WHAT HER CAREER WAS GOING TO BE. BRANDI MONIQUE MERRIFIELD IS HER FULL NAME. SASHA: A GORGEOUS YOUNG WOMAN WITH A PERFECT SMILE AND KIND EYES, WHO LOVED COSMOTOLOGY AND WRITING POETRY. >> I THINK SHE STARTED WITH THE PILLS, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING. SASHA: HER ADDICTION SO BAD, SHE DID WHATEVER SHE NEEDED TO DO TO >> SHE WOULD BASICALLY KNOCK ON THE DOOR AT THE RESIDENCE, SEE IF ANYONE WAS HOME, IF NOT, SHE GAVE THE SIGNAL FOR THIS GUY TO BURGLARIZE THE HOUSES. SASHA: MERRIFIELD TRIED TO HELP HIS DAUGHTER. >> IF YOU NEED FUEL IN YOUR CAR, I’LL GO MEET YOU AT THE GAS STATION. IF YOU NEED FOOD, I’LL BUY YOU FOOD. I’M NOT GIVING YOU MONEY BECAUSE I KNEW WHERE THAT WAS GOING. SASHA: EVENTUALLY HAVING TO DO SOMETHING HE NEVER THOUGHT HE COULD DO. >> I MYSELF AS A FATHER PUT HANDCUFFS ON HER AND IT KEPT HER IN JAIL FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS. I HONESTLY KNEW THOUGH IF I DIDN’T DO THIS WHO’S TO SAY IT WOULDN’T OF HAPPENED SOONER. SASHA: HE EVEN TRIED TO GET HER INTO PROGRAMS. THEN ONE DAYTHE PHONE RANG. HIS HEART SANK. HE KNEW. >> I GET A CALL FROM STATE POLICE. I’M GETTING READY TO GO ON DUTY MYSELF. I GOT TO KIND OF PREPARE MYSELF FOR THIS TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. THAT’S JUST THE REALITY OF IT. SASHA: ADDICTION GOT THE BEST OF BRANDI AT 22-YEARS-OLD. >> WE ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO BURY OUR CHILDREN. THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO BURY US. SASHA: AS SO MANY PARENTS LIKE MERRFIELD DO, THEY TRY TO COPE THROUGH ACTIVISM. BACK AT HER GRAVE, HE STARES AT A PHOTO OF HIS BELOVED BRANDI , KNOWING HER DEATH HAS TO HAVE A PURPOSE. HE WANTS TO SAVE OTHER FAMILIES FROM THE DARKNESS OF ADDICTION . HE ESPECIALLY HOPES TO REACH NEW MEXICO YOUTH. >> I AM ABLE TO RELATE TO SOME OF THE FAMILY AND TALK TO THEM BECAUSE IT’S HARD FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND YOU OR LISTEN TO YOU, ESPECIALLY WEARING A UNIFORM. SASHA: BUT THOUGH HE MAY WEAR A BADGE AND UNIFORM, UNDERNEATH HE’S A DAD, GRIEVING HOPING HIS