A grieving Surrey mom is demanding answers about regulation and oversight of recovery houses, following the overdose death of her son at a Lower Mainland facility.

Maggie Plett said she couldn91裸聊视频檛 believe the conditions she witnessed when she went to pick up her son Zach91裸聊视频檚 belongings hours after learning he91裸聊视频檇 died last December.

91裸聊视频淚 went over to the house to collect his things. I91裸聊视频檓 glad I did, but it was brutal,91裸聊视频� Plett told Peace Arch News.

91裸聊视频淚 wouldn91裸聊视频檛 let a dead animal rot in that place. There was mould on his bed sheets. I91裸聊视频檝e never seen anything like this. The roommate was already wearing a pair of his shoes.91裸聊视频�

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

Plett said 21-year-old Zach was found face-down on his bed at around 4 p.m. on Dec. 15, and, judging by the time of death pinpointed by the coroner 91裸聊视频� between 9 a.m. and noon 91裸聊视频� had been dead for hours before anyone noticed.

She wants to know why, in a facility that91裸聊视频檚 purporting to be helping people recover from addiction, no one thought to check on Zach; where he was, or if he was OK. And if they did, why no one recognized that he needed help.

91裸聊视频淢y son would91裸聊视频檝e been better off homeless,91裸聊视频� Plett said. 91裸聊视频淎t least he would91裸聊视频檝e been on the street, somebody would91裸聊视频檝e found him.91裸聊视频�

Troubled recovery homes 91裸聊视频� both regulated and unregulated 91裸聊视频� are not a new issue in Surrey. Five years ago, city officials shut down more than 100 unregulated operations in a seven-month period, and continued to investigate dozens more.

While the overall situation has reportedly 91裸聊视频渟ignificantly91裸聊视频� improved, and efforts of a committee formed two years ago to tackle problem properties continue, staying on top of it remains an ongoing challenge.

91裸聊视频淚n about the past year 91裸聊视频� a little over a year 91裸聊视频� we91裸聊视频檝e had 87 investigations that were initiated against alleged unregistered recovery or rooming houses,91裸聊视频� City of Surrey bylaw services manager Kim Marosevich said last week.

Of those, 26 were not deemed to be operating as a recovery or rooming house; and 28 that were found to be violating city rules voluntarily ceased operating at the direction of bylaw officers, Marosevich said.

91裸聊视频淭hat leaves us with 33 open files, where we are continuing to work with the property owner or agent to figure out how to bring the property into compliance.91裸聊视频�

The city currently has five open investigations involving licensed recovery homes.

Surrey RCMP Cpl. Bob Keay, a member of the aforementioned committee, also acknowledged that problems continue.

91裸聊视频淚 understand that there are some families that have had some tragedy because of these rooming houses,91裸聊视频� Keay said.

91裸聊视频淥bviously, we91裸聊视频檙e always looking to try to find ways to rectify this concern.91裸聊视频�

Marosevich said the city has 91裸聊视频渁 fairly well-established relationship91裸聊视频� with its 55 regulated operators. She acknowledged that conditions described by Plett have been noted by bylaw officers 91裸聊视频渂oth in places that are operating as alleged recovery homes and places that are simply operating as rooming houses.91裸聊视频�

Gifted student with a contagious laugh

Zach Plett grew up in Ladner with his two sisters, Callie and Cassie. Callie was two years older; Cassie, two years younger. As a kid, Zach was smart, kind, athletic and popular. He played rep hockey and high-level baseball, and did well in school.

For reasons his mom still doesn91裸聊视频檛 understand 91裸聊视频� but said may have been related to mental-health struggles (yet another aspect of Zach91裸聊视频檚 life where his family feels existing resources failed him) 91裸聊视频� Zach started getting into drugs at age 15.

91裸聊视频淗e was really smart, straight-A student, gifted 91裸聊视频� especially in mathematics,91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 know what happened.91裸聊视频�

Tributes in the months after Zach died describe his kindness and patience, his contagious laughter and the closeness he had with his mother.

Callie gave PAN a copy of what she shared with friends and family who attended a service held last January in Zach91裸聊视频檚 honour. It opens with the attribute she loved most about her brother: his laugh.

It 91裸聊视频渘ever faltered,91裸聊视频� no matter how dark things got for him, she wrote.

91裸聊视频淚t was always a glimpse into who Zach really was.91裸聊视频�

Callie described Zach as loyal and protective of those he cared about; someone who valued family above all else.

91裸聊视频淏ut, I91裸聊视频檓 not going to sugar coat things,91裸聊视频� she continued.

91裸聊视频淔or the past seven years or so, Zach struggled every single day. He constantly battled a darkness that many of us couldn91裸聊视频檛 even imagine, and I think the fact that he survived and accomplished so much in his twenty-one years is an incredible feat.91裸聊视频�

She described the overdose crisis 91裸聊视频� which last year killed 1,514 people in B.C., 212 of those in Surrey (including Zach and at least three of his friends) 91裸聊视频� as 91裸聊视频渁n epidemic.91裸聊视频�

BC Coroners91裸聊视频� Service officials estimate eight deaths have occurred in registered private treatment or unregistered facilities since 2015.

In the first three months of this year, Surrey logged 33 illicit-drug overdose deaths.

According to data compiled through toxicology reports, fentanyl was detected in 85 per cent of the 2018 deaths, up from 82 per cent in 2017.

Zach, too, died from a fentanyl overdose, and it was learning that detail last month that prompted his mom to go public with his story. The coroner told Plett that the amount of the opioid in Zach91裸聊视频檚 system wouldn91裸聊视频檛 have killed someone who was using it on a regular basis, as Zach once did.

91裸聊视频淢y son hadn91裸聊视频檛 used fentanyl in six months,91裸聊视频� Plett said.

91裸聊视频楧on91裸聊视频檛 worry about it, mom91裸聊视频�

Zach had only been back in Surrey 91裸聊视频� a decision Plett said she had not supported due to the prevalence of fentanyl and other opioids in the city 91裸聊视频� for about a week when he died. Prior to his return, he91裸聊视频檇 been in Gimli, Man., where he attended what his mom describes as an 91裸聊视频渁wesome91裸聊视频� rehabilitation centre, making gains in his battle to get a handle on his addiction.

But after that program 91裸聊视频� and a brief relapse, followed by another month in the treatment centre 91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频渉e missed home, he wanted to come home,91裸聊视频� she said.

Due to his addiction and the 91裸聊视频渞eally rocky road91裸聊视频� it had put the family on for so many years, Zach knew he couldn91裸聊视频檛 stay with his mom at her townhome, and the two agreed he would go to a recovery house.

Plett said she got the name and phone number for a facility in Surrey from someone she thought she could trust. He told her to e-transfer $950 to the society, and that Zach would be helped to get on social assistance, which would cover fees for his stay going forward.

Later that evening, Plett said Zach called her to say he91裸聊视频檇 been taken to a different home 91裸聊视频� a six-bedroom house in North Surrey, packed with 18 men who shared two bathrooms, only one of which was functioning properly. He also described black mould, Plett said.

There was some structure, at least 91裸聊视频� residents had a schedule to follow, around chores, breakfast, when to wake up.

Zach asked his mom to bring him a clean blanket and pillow, which she did. That brief visit was the last time Plett saw her son.

The next day, he called to tell her he was being kicked out for 91裸聊视频渃ausing problems,91裸聊视频� which Plett learned was due to Zach91裸聊视频檚 disclosures to her regarding conditions at the house.

91裸聊视频淭hey told Zach you91裸聊视频檙e not to talk about this house outside these walls,91裸聊视频� she said.

Dropped off at another facility, a few blocks west of Queen Elizabeth Secondary, Zach told his mom the conditions were no better, save for the fact he was allowed to keep his phone.

91裸聊视频淚 said, 91裸聊视频榃hat91裸聊视频檚 it like? Any better?91裸聊视频� He said, 91裸聊视频業t91裸聊视频檚 the same. Don91裸聊视频檛 worry about it, mom.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淗e was dead two days later.91裸聊视频�

The evening before he died, a Friday, Zach called to tell his mom that he and his roommate were going to a recovery meeting. Plett91裸聊视频檚 confident he went, as she found signed paperwork amongst his belongings that confirmed his attendance. How long he and the roommate were there, if they went anywhere before returning to the recovery home and exactly what they did before Zach crawled into bed 91裸聊视频� one woman at the house reported the pair were using until around 5 a.m. Dec. 15 91裸聊视频� remain among Plett91裸聊视频檚 unanswered questions.

The dinnertime call was the last time Plett spoke to her son. Around the same time the following day, her phone rang again, only this time, it was a police officer on the other end of the line.

91裸聊视频淭hey told me they needed to speak to me, so I knew,91裸聊视频� Plett said, holding Zach91裸聊视频檚 pillow in her lap.

91裸聊视频楳y son should never have died there91裸聊视频�

To this day, Plett doesn91裸聊视频檛 know who received the $950 she transferred, or what it paid for.

Why no one had checked on Zach and how it is that the recovery house where he died could be operating with the conditions she witnessed and no apparent enforcement, for Plett, is beyond comprehension.

91裸聊视频淚 want to know why those places are funded by government,91裸聊视频� she said.

The home where Zach died is on the province91裸聊视频檚 Assisted Living Registry, which is required of publicly subsidized and private-pay residences that meet the definition of such residences under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act. According to the province91裸聊视频檚 website, the mandate of the registrar is 91裸聊视频渢o protect the health and safety of assisted living residents.91裸聊视频�

According to the ALR, there are currently three 91裸聊视频榮ubstantiated complaints91裸聊视频� against the site where Zach died.

The two most recent files, updated May 8, cite non-compliance with regard to staff skills and safe site management; residents91裸聊视频� access to information about the residence, supports and services prior to entering; and psychosocial supports that assist in long-term recovery.

The third file, dating back to November, cites non-compliance in providing a 91裸聊视频渟afe, secure and sanitary environment91裸聊视频� for residents; safely prepared and nutritious meals; and more.

Marosevich confirmed the City of Surrey has seven investigations on file against the same house. The last active file was in October of last year, and there are no open investigations at this time, she said.

Marosevich said she couldn91裸聊视频檛 elaborate on details of the complaints, but emphasized that the city primarily deals with issues surrounding external concerns, such as unsightly property and noise.

91裸聊视频淗aving a complaint isn91裸聊视频檛 necessarily validation of an issue, or that there91裸聊视频檚 been enforcement action taken,91裸聊视频� she added.

Complaints regarding operations or programming should be directed to the province, she said, however, any made to the city would 91裸聊视频渃ertainly generate a file91裸聊视频� that could result in a parallel investigation.

Marosevich said it surprised her to learn of the circumstances surrounding Zach91裸聊视频檚 death occurring in a recovery home that is both ALR-registered and licensed by the city.

91裸聊视频淚t does. I91裸聊视频檓 terribly sorry for him and his family,91裸聊视频� she said.

As of May 27, the site remained one of the city91裸聊视频檚 licensed operators, although Marosevich said the list is 91裸聊视频渄efinitely in flux right now.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淭here are several that have licences that the province has currently removed the registration,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淲e are in the process of open investigations for those.91裸聊视频�

One challenge in cancelling any such licence, she noted, is the people who are using the facility. A transition plan is needed 91裸聊视频渟o they don91裸聊视频檛 end up in a worse situation,91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 still people who need to find places to live,91裸聊视频� she said.

Plett91裸聊视频檚 boyfriend 91裸聊视频� who asked to not be identified 91裸聊视频� said it91裸聊视频檚 unconscionable what Zach and others like him are subjected to, simply for profit.

91裸聊视频淭hese places that are out there, they91裸聊视频檙e saying they91裸聊视频檙e there to help. And they91裸聊视频檙e not,91裸聊视频� he said, describing the house where Zach died as 91裸聊视频渁n unbelievable dump,91裸聊视频� and the fact that no one had checked on him as 91裸聊视频渞idiculous.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淲here91裸聊视频檚 the check and balance? There seems to be nothing,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a great money-making thing,91裸聊视频� he added. 91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 always another addict.91裸聊视频�

Plett said she plans to take her concerns to her MP, 91裸聊视频渟ooner than later.91裸聊视频�

She also continues to wrestle with guilt around her son91裸聊视频檚 death. May 15 marked the five-month anniversary and 91裸聊视频渋t feels like yesterday,91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 sorry that I made my son go to a place like that. I thought he was exaggerating.

91裸聊视频淢y son should never have died there.91裸聊视频�

Clear guidelines exist

In B.C., recovery houses must be registered with the province through the Assisted Living Registry 91裸聊视频� which has 91裸聊视频渧ery clear guidelines91裸聊视频� around health and safety, services to residents and staff conduct 91裸聊视频� and licensed through their respective municipalities, where jurisdiction revolves around property use.

READ MORE:

The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction provides registered homes with per diem funding of $30.90 per resident.

In 2016, the City of Surrey capped its allowed number of such facilities at 55. The ALR currently shows 50 registered sites in Surrey, a discrepancy Surrey bylaw services manager Kim Marosevich said is explained by the fact the city would require two operations in a duplex, for example, to have separate licences, even if the same operator was running them, while the province would consider the duplex as one operation.

Marosevich described the current incidence of encountering operations that are neither registered nor licensed as 91裸聊视频渇airly rare.91裸聊视频�

At the same time, bylaw officers have 91裸聊视频渁bsolutely91裸聊视频� seen conditions like those described by Plett.

91裸聊视频淣ot that long ago, maybe two months ago, we had eight properties in total where, essentially, the property owners had an agent managing the property on their behalf, and the agent put a bunch of people in properties that are slated for demolition,91裸聊视频� Marosevich said.

91裸聊视频淲e had91裸聊视频� situations where the hydro was turned off and people were living in these properties, and the property owners were unaware of what was happening because they had hired an agent.

91裸聊视频淪o, the agent was taking money from these tenants, essentially, and not paying the bills91裸聊视频� just collecting the revenues. It ended up taking almost a month to find appropriate housing through social-service connections for 33 people, that were living in squalor.91裸聊视频�

Marosevich noted that in the described circumstance, seniors comprised the majority of the affected residents.

91裸聊视频淧eople who are often the most vulnerable people in our communities are the ones that are subject to this victimization.91裸聊视频�

Ensuring such residents have a safe place to go is a factor in dealing with problem operations, she said.

South Surrey-White Rock MP Gordie Hogg said recovery houses that exist to simply prey on addicts 91裸聊视频渘eed to be exposed.91裸聊视频�

Marosevich said it91裸聊视频檚 challenging to find appropriate housing for people in need of recovery and 91裸聊视频渟hocking91裸聊视频� that operators who don91裸聊视频檛 have their clients91裸聊视频� best interests at heart are receiving funding that could potentially benefit those providing high-level programming and services.

Hogg and Marosevich both emphasized the importance of reporting sketchy operations.

91裸聊视频淏usiness inspectors have to be aware, neighbours have to report,91裸聊视频� Hogg said.

Marosevich also cautioned property owners who enlist agents to manage their properties.

91裸聊视频淏e aware, be clear, know what is happening on your property,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淏ecause at the end of the day, you are responsible for it, and we will find you.91裸聊视频�

tholmes@peacearchnews.com
Like us on and follow us on