by: Heather Hegedus Updated: Feb 22, 2016 - 11:10 PM

BOSTON —

Mark Signori is only 23 years old, but he has already come close to death numerous times.

“I've been dosed seven different times,” Signori told FOX25.

Heroin almost killed him, and each time he was revived with Narcan, an overdosing reversing drug.

“I've gone inside Lowell General, walked right back out across the street, back onto High St no pun intended,” he said. “I'd still have my stuff in my pocket, get my rig out when I left, throw it right back and I'd keep using.”

But the lesson wasn’t sinking in. The same sort of thing kept happening with Timmy Droz, of Waltham.

“I passed away roughly 6 times in 7 days, flatlined, expired,” Droz told FOX25.

The father of two and veteran says even after he was brought back to life with Narcan, he couldn’t stop using.

“Once it's in my system, I don't call the shots anymore, the heroin does,” Droz said.

Because it sometimes takes more than one dose to revive someone, Droz estimates that he has been given close to 30 doses of Narcan.

While Narcan saves lives, critics say the drug could be enabling some addicts. Both men FOX25 spoke to say that was never the motivation.

“Did I think about ‘oh I'm going to use because there's Narcan there?’ Absolutely not. I was going to use because I wanted to use,” Signori said.

One of many Massachusetts communities that has seen the same people overdosing is Fitchburg. Out of the 198 overdose calls Fitchburg police and firefighters went on in 2015, 10 times they went to repeat addresses.

“Sometimes we don't get even get called anymore, if a family member or friend administers Narcan, they come out of it, they don't call us,” Fitchburg Fire Department Chief Kevin Roy told FOX25.

Fitchburg EMS told FOX25 Investigates that just in the past two months, they have administered Narcan 45 times to just 25 people.

“It's obviously something that's frustrating for us when you feel like you made a difference the first time and then later on they overdosed again,” said Bob Bourque with Fitchburg and Gardner EMS.

“Couple of patients that stand out that you know we've given it to maybe 4, 5 times over a year.” Fitchburg and Gardner EMS’ Randy Girouard said.

Both paramedics say whether it is someone’s first call to 911 or their 10th, they are in the business of saving lives and hopefully changing them too.

“We all got into this field to try to help people and hopefully impact their lives in a positive way,” Bourque said.

Droz knows they made a difference in his life.

“I'd like to thank the firefighters, police department of Waltham, Watertown, and all the EMTs who revived me so that our sons still have a father,” Droz said.

As for how much Narcan costs municipalities, the price of a single dose has recently dropped to $20 because the state is now able to purchase it in bulk. Other cities and towns receive it free through grants.