Jill McCullum remembers how her son struggled with PTSD when he came back from serving in Afghanistan.
But despite what McCullum calls well intentioned medical professionals, her son quickly became addicted to his medications.
“Those in the (area) didn’t really have a handle on how to deal with PTSD and he quickly became addicted to those drugs, those prescribed drugs, then he spiraled down,” said McCullum.
Nicholas Stevens was an otherwise healthy, well-loved 27-year-old man when he died of a drug overdose on March 27, 2017.
McCullum’s story about her son is just one of thousands from the other pandemic plaguing the province. In July alone there were 176 deaths as a result of drug overdose in B.C., up 136 percent from last year.
The number of deaths in the province from the whole of the six month COVID-19 pandemic are only 30 more, for a total of 203.
After her son’s death in 2017, she was steered toward Mum’s Stop the Harm, a support group of mothers who have lost loved ones to overdoses. She then propelled into the overdose awareness community, trying to make a difference in small towns in the South Okanagan.
“I am just appalled at the lack of supports and services in small towns like Oliver. This South Okanagan area was hit incredibly hard last year and I suspect more so this year.”
McCullum said even for those who were close to overdose victims, there is little support. She gave an example of a mother in her group saying she needed help when she was struggling, “today at 3 o’clock, not when the counsellor can see me a month from now for an hour.”
Jill McCullum, front and centre, lost her son to an overdose in 2017. She has since gotten involved with Mum’s Stop the Harm, pictured, who support grieving mothers and advocate for better mental health and substance abuse support in Oliver. (Photo: submitted)
McCullum hopes that by her and the other members of the Oliver chapter of Mum’s Stop the Harm decorating the town with purple bows for International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, more attention will be brought to the overdose pandemic.
“What I would like the public to know is that there should be no shame, no stigma, this is impacting every walk of life,” said McCullum. “This is the people you work alongside, this could be your neighbour, this could be the person who delivers your UPS to you, you just do not know. There are very high-functioning people with an opioid addiction or are dealing with some other mental health issue through drugs.”
Along with purple bows adorning lamp posts along Main Street, McCullum and her fellow mums have lobbied the town, Interior Health and many businesses to join the campaign. The Oliver Movie Theatre, the Legion, and Buy Low Foods are among some of the businesses and town landmarks that will “light it up purple” for the annual day of awareness.
McCullum said one of the group’s staunchest supporters has been the mayor.
“I see it with the mayor, he has supported, with the councillors, the idea of promoting August as overdose awareness month. He’s come forth this year and last with the lighting up of something. I believe it’s the town hall this year … but I haven’t had confirmation.”
The group is hoping that Interior Health will also light the hospital up purple for the occasion, as a landmark that can be seen around town atop the hill in Oliver.
McCullum is very thankful for all the support she and Mums Stop the Harm have received in Oliver, but she hopes the message will be heard far beyond the little interior town to make a difference in the other, less publicized pandemic.
