Fentanyl is the poison that killed my brother and many others. I want my vote to save lives

This First Person column is written by Richard Anderson, who lives in Silver Creek, B.C. For more information about First Person stories, see the FAQ.

I received the phone call early one morning and knew right away that it would not be an enjoyable conversation. 

My dad and I would talk on a certain day at a certain time, and this was not that day. We said good mornings, then my dad told me that my younger brother, Bruce, had passed away. All I remember is breaking down crying like I have never cried in my entire life. 

I pulled myself together long enough to ask my dad what happened, and he told me my brother had been found dead in bed. A suspected overdose. How could this be? After all, my brother was in a drug treatment centre in Kelowna, B.C.

My brother died on Oct. 26, 2021, at the age of 50. This October will be four years, and though I have come to terms with losing him, I will never truly be the same. I do not know why I am still alive when Bruce and so many others are not. Survivor's guilt is something I have experienced deeply.

My own addiction history started at the age of 18 and has always revolved around alcohol. Then I got into a hard drug that, even today, I'm too ashamed to talk about. But I know how it felt using it. 

In the mid-'90s, at the age of 25, I entered a well-paying career in the oilpatch that would last 25 years. I went to remote camps and worked 14 to 21 days straight and was always able to stay clean and sober while there. Much like a detox. 

But when I went out on my seven days off, I was mentally and physically drained from the stress of the job and the -40 C days, and I would use and drink to excess. 

Tougher laws, safer drugs

I want the next federal government to act on the fentanyl crisis. 

First, I believe the federal government should treat those involved in manufacturing, smuggling and selling this poison in the same way it treats terrorists and organized crime groups. With fentanyl killing people at the rate that is — there were almost 51,000 related deaths between January 2016 and September 2024 — stricter punishments should be put in place, such as mandatory minimum sentences — something the Liberal government removed four years ago. Perhaps even murder charges should be laid when someone dies. There is no question that people dealing in this drug know it is killing people. Is that not the definition of premeditation?

Second, I want the federal government to support the creation of more safe injection sites and a clean drug supply. My reasons for this are obvious — and very personal. 

When I actively used, I felt like I lived in the shadows of life. So many people do not understand the life of a drug user, but I can assure you that these are not good times. Your every waking moment can be consumed in a drive for your next fix. I had no self-love, no self-respect and no self-confidence. 

To think this is killing young people who have not even experienced life is the most heartbreaking part of this illness. This poison. 

Unsafe drugs are readily available. In 2021 — the year Bruce died — there were 2,224 suspected overdose deaths in B.C., and a provincial report found the drug supply had become increasingly toxic. All it takes is one bad dose, and that individual never has the opportunity to meet the person or access the help that they need to re-enter life.

Federal parties have pitched different approaches to dealing with the toxic drug crisis in B.C. — particularly when it comes to overdose prevention and supervised consumption sites. The Conservatives have pledged to severely restrict overdose prevention sites but would fund some treatment. The Liberals say they're reviewing the effectiveness of the sites, while the NDP and Greens have come out in support of harm reduction for drug users and services like these. Every party's policies have good and bad points and this is something I have to weigh in my decision. 

What needs to change is a collective show of compassion. We all started out as innocent children.

Everybody deserves a chance.

My chance came in 2019, when I was 50 and diagnosed as bipolar. Without that diagnosis, I would still be doing the same things. 

Instead, I was able to access psychiatrists and counsellors and be put on the right dose of medications. Being clean opened my eyes to all the beauty there is in life and to see how many wonderful people there are.

If a person is given the opportunity to consume clean drugs, they — like me — might learn that they have undiagnosed mental health issues that could be treated as part of their recovery. 

To the people who say supplying addicts with clean drugs is enabling, I say that is ridiculous. What it does is give these people the opportunity to discover a brand-new life.

Nobody gave up on me

As I write this, I am looking at Bruce's obituary. 

I still am working through my own mental health issues — PTSD and bipolar. I struggle at times, but I am still working hard toward staying clean and sober. 

Being diagnosed with mental health disorders and addictions, a lot is up to me to research and to reach out for help. I still see a counsellor and psychiatrist regularly. I guess you could say that I have never truly given up. 

It also helped that my family has never given up on me. 

After my brother's passing, I felt alone. There were times during this dark period that I no longer wanted to live. Then one day, I met Michelle, the lady of my dreams, and her dog, Harvey. I have put her through hell and back with my drinking every single day, but for the grace of God she has stuck with me. I used to feel very alone and, at times, still do but now I go home to my little family where I feel loved and secure. 

My brother and I were the absolute best friends. We loved each other, we cried together, laughed together and we fought side by side together. Now he is gone, and I still feel broken. 

All the people who lost their lives to this poison should be avenged and it is up to the federal government to do everything in its power to make sure these people have not died in vain.

What's the one issue that matters the most to you in this federal election? CBC News will publish a range of perspectives from voters who share the personal experience shaping their choice at the ballot box. Read more First Person columns related to the election here