7. The Police Officer

Officer Torrey Rowe, who works the night shift for the police department in Edmond, Oklahoma, says that while the opioid epidemic has been a huge problem in her state for some time, she’s responded to multiple overdose calls in just the last couple of weeks. One of those was fatal. Through audio journals provided to ABC News, the 34-year-old police officer talks about how the pandemic has created new challenges for law enforcement, even for her community’s youngest citizens. She recently responded to a call where a 7-year-old was having a hard time being cooped up. Officer Rowe looks forward to the days when she can run charity 5Ks and go to KISS concerts again, but she describes how -- even while at risk -- she is committed to her job, calling her community “amazing.” "The Essentials: Inside the Curve" is a special series from ABC Audio, makers of the daily ABC News podcast "Start Here," the chart-topping series "The Dropout," and more: http://www.abcaudio.com/podcasts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices