Editor's note: This story aired on ABC Action News in September 2023 under the company's prior name, InterAct LifeLine. In January 2025, InterAct LifeLine became Pathroot Health to reflect an expanded focus on supporting providers, employers, and payers in delivering value-based care through family engagement and post-treatment monitoring. The story is preserved here as part of the company's media history.

View the full segment on ABC Action News →

St. Pete mother creates app to reduce overdose deaths after losing daughter

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A mother in St. Petersburg is making it her life mission to reduce the number of overdose deaths in our country.

According to the CDC, more than 100,000 people died from a drug overdose in 2022 alone.

Carolyn Bradfield started a company called Pathroot Health (formerly InterAct LifeLine). Its original purpose was to educate people on the dangers of fentanyl and opioids. It also aims to keep people connected to treatment after they get out of rehab.

Bradfield started the company after she lost her daughter to an overdose in 2017.

"Like many, many families over the past years, I had a personal tragedy in my family. My daughter overdosed and died at Christmas."

A tragedy that most mothers never recover from. Bradfield said she felt her daughter's death was a call to action.

"Pretty soon after her death, I started researching why people were relapsing and overdosing at such a high rate."

From there, Bradfield used her technology and business background to create the company. It's a technology service that focuses on helping recovery programs and keeping people connected to treatment online after rehab. She's also working on an app that will launch next year with the ability to detect a potential overdose.

"It's designed to prevent overdoses and overdose deaths by taking data out of your fitness tracker."

The app connects with an Apple Watch, Fitbit, or whatever device you use to track your fitness. From there, it monitors your vitals and heart rate. The team can then detect a potential overdose.

"My daughter, when she overdosed, she was a mile from the trauma hospital. She was around a lot of people; they did not intervene."

She said she hopes this app can save lives and prevent other families from dealing with the devastation that her family went through. She also encourages everyone to have Narcan in their medicine cabinet or even carry it in a purse. That can save someone's life.

Where to find free Narcan in the Tampa Bay area

You can buy Narcan over the counter, or the locations below offer free Narcan:

• Specialty Care Center — 1105 E. Kennedy Blvd.

• University Area Health Center — 13601 N. 22nd St.

• Sulphur Springs Health Center — 8605 N. Mitchell Ave.

• Tuberculosis Center — 8515 N. Mitchell Ave.