A commentary by a Royal Oak resident.
In British Columbia, 2,511 people died of suspected overdoses in 2023. Unfortunately my family has started off this year with my nephew’s death due to an unintentional overdose. Yet another statistic.
We are devastated.
How many more are going to die this year?
The government’s plans for housing and a clean supply of drugs are a start, but these are Band-Aid solutions and are not getting at the core of the problem. Until they start working on the mental health of individuals, it is not going to be enough.
Grant McKenzie of Our Place, who knows a thing or two regarding the on-going problems, states that clean supply needs to be part of a two-step solution: clean supply along with physical and psychological attention.
My nephew was diagnosed with schizophrenia long before he became addicted to drugs. He had seen psychiatrists who would only prescribe drugs with little or no counselling.
He never gained any insight to his illness. If he had received more supports at this point, his life could have turned out so much differently.
However, when his prescribed drugs weren’t helping his schizophrenia (ie. angry voices, virtual reality), he started taking street drugs for that quick relief and became addicted to those drugs. This led to a fatal overdose when his drugs were unknowingly cut with fentanyl.
In researching the role and education of psychiatrists I discovered they have 12 or 13 years of education and training.
The Canadian Medical Association describes the role of psychiatrists as providing “a comprehensive assessment, leading to a diagnosis and a treatment plan for the care and rehabilitation of patients with mental illness and emotional and behavioral disorders.
They (psychiatrists) must be comfortable in working WITH the patient, as opposed to working ON the patient…..and lead a team that includes the patient, their family and other mental health professionals and agencies.”
This has not been our experience with psychiatrists. They are quick to only prescribe medications, have dismissed my nephew’s feelings and needs, didn’t form a team to help him, and didn’t work with his family. Family members are left trying to find solutions on their own that aren’t there.
Thank goodness the one support he did get was an amazing case worker who was able to get my nephew “supportive” housing however his housing was on Pandora Avenue (the only option available), right in the midst of the drug scene.
We felt grateful that he wasn’t on the streets but drugs there were unavoidable. My nephew had asked for help several times but there was nowhere to send him. The time for wanting help is fleeting before the draw of drugs take over again.
Support and case workers are stressed and feel helpless watching all of this going on as there is only so much they are able do. My nephew is not the only one going through a similar walk of “life.”
The “system” has failed him, and others, again and again.
I don’t propose to have answers, but then I don’t have any formal education in this field.
I know any solution will cost money, but what is it costing us to do nothing about the underlying causes that lead to drug addiction?
The sick are suffering. Their families are suffering. Our society is suffering.
We should have more facilities and supports available to help individuals with mental illness, however any treatment plan has to be individualized and not a one-size-fits-all approach (a short stay at the often touted Red Fish facility in Burnaby proved that).
We need people coming to the table that have education and knowledge, that are dedicated to a practice aiming at solutions, and that think outside the “just give meds” box to get things accomplished.
It is too late for my nephew and our family is beyond heartbroken. But a drive down Pandora shows that there is so much more work to be done.
>>> To comment on this article, write a letter to the editor: [email protected]
