by Leslie McBain
First, I must tell you that my beautiful only child Jordan McBain Miller died at age 25 from an accidental prescription drug overdose. He did not die of the tragic epidemic of toxic street drug deaths we now face. He had become addicted to a painkiller prescribed by our doctor for a back injury. Jordan was a child of privilege; we had enough money, we always had a home, our family of three was always intact. Jordan had what we thought were minor mental health challenges such as ADHD and dyslexia.
These are in part what drove him into drug use, addiction, and accidental overdose death. Jordan loved people and animals, and even had his own small business by the age of 23. He had a loving partner. He was set to enjoy a full life.
And thus begins the story of my own advocacy and support for vulnerable people, especially people who use illicit substances and are vulnerable to poverty, racism, trauma, and mental health issues.
I met two Edmonton women, Petra Schultz and Lorna Thomas, upon learning that their sons too had died of drug harms. We decided to create an organization to advocate for better policies to support vulnerable people who use illicit substances.
The short story is that after some trial and error we created a non-profit organization called Moms Stop the Harm. From the three of us in 2016 on to this writing we have grown to over 3000 members across Canada. Our goal is to support people who use drugs by advocating for government drug policies that actually save lives. This takes us into many different pathways of support. We advocate for a regulated supply of drugs that are implemented through physicians, health systems, and a few other pathways that are legal and safe. Our primary goal is to keep people alive until they’re able to access treatment and recovery services, mental health supports, housing, and safe environments in which to live. We do much of our work by striving to educate the public through social media, webinars, letters to the editor, panels, and talks.
We sincerely believe that everyone, but especially youth, deserve safety, connection, health care, education, and a job. Only non-profits such as YESS seem to be able to address these needs in a positive and well-rounded way.
My father, Ross McBain, was a “mover and shaker” in Edmonton from around 1950 to the day he died in 2018 at age 94. He was always very involved in his beloved Edmonton community in business, sports, and community events such as Klondike Days, and in employing many people in his camera business. He was a man who would take a chance on someone who perhaps didn’t have the experience or the knowledge but was willing to learn. He was rarely disappointed in people’s potential and ability to do a great job. I remember a few times when things didn’t exactly work out, but those were few and far between! My father believed deeply in volunteerism and he believed in supporting those less fortunate. He did thousands of hours of volunteer work in his life. All of us, his five children, have had volunteerism as part of our lives. In some ways, I believe the family we are born into is the luck of the draw. We lucked out!
Ross McBain built a foundation for giving and we, his family, have the wonderful responsibility of administrating that foundation. YESS has always been on our list and as I look more into this organization, I am so impressed and grateful that YESS does what it does. And I truly believe that we who can help, must help! Walking the talk, as they say, brings some peace and joy to others but also a feeling of fulfilment to the helpers.
Every single youth deserves the best that life has to offer. But some are not that lucky. As a society, it is our duty to help and support our valuable and vulnerable youth to find safety, health, and connection, and to see their worth in this world.
