42,249.

It’s the number of Americans who died in 2016 from an opioid overdose.

To put it in perspective, that would be the city of Gainesville disappearing.

An entire Suntrust Park filled to capacity for a Braves game gone.

But the opioid crisis — which has been called a public health emergency by the president — is not just numbers. It’s people.

It’s the family that turned tragedy into activism.

It’s law enforcement tackling it on one side and recovery programs on another.

It’s a man who doctors thought would die, but who came back to life to tell his story.

To hear him tell it, growing up was avoiding conversation about the elephant in the room.

This is Back to Life, brought to you by The Times.

Avery Nix, a North Hall High School graduate, shares how he got hooked on opioids.

Susan Blank, chief medical officer at the Atlanta Healing Center, explains the science of addiction.

Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad Lt. Don Scalia and Gainesville Police Officer Cory Cummings discuss the rise in popularity of opioid drugs and how they combat the problem.

Dallas Gay talks about the loss of his grandson Jeffrey Gay to an opioid overdose in 2012, and of his own work since then spreading awareness.

Northeast Georgia Health System’s behavioral health facility, Laurelwood, provides services to addiction patients in crisis. Joni Powell speaks about those services, needs in the community and best practices in addiction treatment. 

Avery Nix talks about how he was brought back to life after overdosing on opioids. Dr. Mohak Davé discusses the growing number of overdoses seen at Northeast Georgia Medical Center's emergency room.

Avery Nix and his sponsor Reese Daniel talk about the road to recovery.

Avery Nix talks about building the relationship with his daughter and the growing recovery community in Gainesville.