Two years ago, if I was asked if I knew anyone who used hard drugs, I would have said “no.”
During my teens and early-adult life, I crossed paths with those who did use hard drugs, but I never knowingly spent time with people who were actively using, and I have never tried hard drugs myself.
Over the past two years, I have learned of friends and acquaintances who have died of drug overdoses.
Just a couple of weeks ago, I learned of an ex-boyfriend who suffered a fatal overdose as well.
With each death, I was surprised, and I felt it was unexpected. One was a mother who used to come to my house and do crafts when our daughters were two years old. We lost touch but stayed on each other’s social media, and that is where I learned of her passing.
I am not sure if she was using drugs when I met her many years ago, or if it was something that began later. Honestly, it doesn’t really matter.
Each time I learn that someone I have known has died of a drug overdose, it is a reminder of the danger of toxic illicit drugs. In some cases, I have known people were abusing alcohol, but had no idea they were also using hard drugs until I learned of their passing.
The people I have known who have died from overdoses were all people that were close to me at one point. Even if they were not close to me at the time of their deaths, I know that they all had friends and family who cared deeply for them.
There is an epidemic of lethal drugs in our communities. This is not a new topic and there have been many news articles and conversations about this.
When I read about 12-year-old Allayah Yoli Thomas, who died of a suspected drug overdose, it hit me hard. I know it was not an easy article for anyone to read. Every life lost to overdose is sad, but when we hear of a 12-year-old child, it hits at an entirely new level.
I have a daughter who is 11, and there is no way I could read about Allayah and not think about my own daughter and her friends.
Allayah’s story should be a reminder to all of us of the dangers our communities are facing.
Unfortunately, there have been so many of these stories that keep reminding us of these dangers. I last wrote about this topic in September 2019, when 16-year-old Belmont Secondary student Abby Barker’s death occurred. These stories are more than stories; they are lives lost and families shattered.
We want our children, family members, friends and acquaintances to be safe. There are many factors involved and many of them I do not know. I am not an expert in the topic, and I do not know how to solve the issue.
As soon as I read the article about Allayah, I called my daughter over to me, so she could hear this story, too. Allayah’s family has spoken out and explained that she had overdosed before and that her family had tried to get her help that was not available to a 12-year-old.
To hear that Allayah’s family tried to get help and was unable to is sad and devastating. It is also sad and devastating that there needs to be programs and support to assist children as young as 12.
Even if we think we do not know anyone who uses hard drugs, the chances are that we do. Sadly, sometimes we won’t learn of their drug use until they succumb to the addiction.
Charla Huber is the director of communications and Indigenous relations at M’akola Housing Society.
