Dear Editor,
Returning to Bowen from my Christmas weekend I picked up a copy of The Undercurrent on the ferry. Reading the article about Lorinda Strang’s generous donation of Naloxone to the community (through the Fire Dept), encouraged me to add my voice to the battle against the Fentanyl crisis.
This was my family’s first Christmas without our 27 year old nephew Paul. Paul died on September 28th, after a Fentanyl overdose at his best friend’s wedding. Five of the wedding guests did cocaine, and thanks to Naloxone four of them survived.
I want to echo Lorinda’s words that this is not only a Downtown Eastside problem. This is not something that happens to other people’s families. No one was more shocked than my sister to hear that her son had done cocaine.
So, whether you know, deny you know, or couldn’t conceive of your child (or anyone you care about) doing recreational drugs, talk to them about the very real dangers. Yes, instill the fear of death, and how devastating it would be for you and your family to lose them. And if they need help breaking an addiction, get it for them.
So many hearts are breaking because of this crisis. I pray that Bowen families may be spared, but the only way that can happen is if we talk about it, and do whatever we can to help spare lives.
With hopeful wishes for 2017 to all in this community I love so much,
Nicola Murray
