Confronting nation's 'heroin tsunami'

POST FALLS — Crushing news came shortly after Cindy Schaffner heard sirens just a few blocks from her Post Falls home.

The sirens, Schaffner learned, were for her 19-year-old daughter, Cathryn Mason.

Cathryn, who loved the outdoors and was majoring in recreation management at North Idaho College, was in critical condition. She’d overdosed on heroin and alcohol.

Cathryn died two days later after she was taken off of life support. That was May 2014.

"She was a very driven and focused person," Schaffner said, fighting back tears. "She loved to go on hikes and was full of life. She was celebrating getting good grades for the semester."

Schaffner said it was the first time she was aware of that her daughter had used drugs.

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