Sudbury mom wants to hear how parties will tackle opioid crisis
Hello from Sudbury, Ont., where I am reporting today on CBC News Network. This city, like others across Canada, is losing residents to the toxic drug supply.
Denise Sandul��’s son died in 2020, and to help cope with her grief she started a group called Sudbury Outreach Support, to help others with the same struggles her son had. She also erected a memorial cross at a downtown Sudbury intersection, a tribute site that has grown in size with more and more crosses to honour other overdose victims.
I met Sandul at the site, where she distributes clothing, food and supplies to those in need every Sunday. She said she understands why drug addiction isn’t front and centre in the election campaign — but she wishes it was getting more attention.
“Not only do these people die, they leave behind a broken community,” she said, explaining the ripple effect when a loved one dies. “We don’t want a community that’s full of broken people.”
“I’d like to hear about what we’re going to do about the toxic drugs — these are poison drugs. People aren’t dying of addiction. They’re dying of drugs that kill. I’d love to hear a candidate that has some interest in that,” Sandul said.
Last year, 134 deaths were linked to drugs in the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts. In January and February, 24 people died. Sandul said these are preventable deaths.
She’s “heartbroken” over her son’s death. “I try to turn my pain into purpose.”
