Saskatoon mom fights for change after son's fentanyl death

A Saskatoon mom dealing with the deadly consequences of a street drug is speaking out after a CBC News exclusive that offered a glimpse into the mind of an alleged dealer.

Marie Agioritis lost her son, Kelly Best, 19, in January to a fentanyl overdose. Her eldest son, Kayle Best, is addicted to the deadly drug.

• Accused fentanyl dealer issues warning to potential users
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CBC news spoke to about a man currently in jail awaiting trial for trafficking fentanyl, or so-called "fake OxyContin."

"It's a horrible drug. It's more addicting than anything. It'll ruin you. Stay away from it," he said.

For Agioritis, the dire warning feels like a hideous understatement. The highly-addictive drug, 100 times more potent than morphine, waged war on her family and claimed two of her sons as victims.

"That's the double tragedy in our family," said Agioritis.

Tragic tale begins with addiction

This story begins with Kayle Best, a confident, outgoing young athlete who, according to his mother had no idea what he was getting into when he began abusing prescription drugs.

"For four or five years we've lived with some really tragic happenings, and Kayle…we sent him for private treatment in B.C., we did everything we could with him, counselling, etc., etc., but the pull of the drug was just so intense."  

It was Kayle who introduced his younger brother Kelly to fentanyl.

"Kelly was an amazingly sweet, loving, kind kid," Agioritis said.

It happened last January when Kelly was home alone. Kayle crushed half a pill for his little brother to snort under supervision to make sure the drug was safe. According to Agioritis, things took a tragic turn when Kelly snorted the other half of the pill the next morning.

Now Agioritis works tirelessly for change. She's calling for better policing, more accessible addiction services and tighter controls of dangerous prescription drugs.   

"I'm a mom who has lost a son; I have spent hours and hours reading everything that I can to find out why and what we can do about because it's the only thing that makes me feel like Kelly's death wasn't in vain."