The parents of a 13-year-old girl who died in an Abbotsford homeless camp are calling on the federal government to provide more funding and support for mental-health and addiction services for youth.
Sarah Macdonald and Lance Charles shared their story Tuesday (Oct. 8) in Ottawa to the federal Standing Committee on Health.
Brianna Macdonald died Aug. 23 of an overdose, and her stepdad Charles told the committee she struggled with mental-health issues that 91裸聊视频渄ragged her down to a dark path.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淏rianna had over 20 reported suicide attempts. She tried to overdose on prescription drugs that she would steal over time,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� We, as parents, started to discuss what we could do to try to get her help. We looked into treatment centres, mental-health centres, doctors and counsellors. None of it helped.91裸聊视频�
Charles said Brianna often spoke of hearing 91裸聊视频渄emons and voices91裸聊视频� in her head, and the only way she could drown them out was through drug use, mainly 91裸聊视频淢olly91裸聊视频� (MDMA), but she would try 91裸聊视频渁nything she could get her hands on.91裸聊视频�
Charles said the couple sought help through treatment centres and doctors, but Brianna was often released prematurely or without a proper diagnosis.
Her condition deteriorated, leading to violent episodes and police involvement.
91裸聊视频淲e noticed things were getting darker. She became a ball of rage. She was up all night, sneaking around and doing drugs. She started to come and go as she pleased,91裸聊视频� Charles said.
In February, she was found overdosing in the family91裸聊视频檚 kitchen. Afterwards, she was sent to BC Children91裸聊视频檚 Hospital, but didn91裸聊视频檛 do well there, and was then transferred to Surrey Memorial, from where she was released after 10 days.
91裸聊视频淭hey told (Sarah) Brianna was cleared to be released when realistically she wasn91裸聊视频檛. She had just finished putting a pencil through her hand,91裸聊视频� Charles said.
91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� Sarah fought to keep her there, and all they did was send us home with a Narcan kit.91裸聊视频�
Charles said Sarah began following Brianna, and saw her go to a harm reduction site, where she received bags full of needles, 91裸聊视频渃ooking kits91裸聊视频� and pamphlets on how to cook the drugs and safely use them.
91裸聊视频淲e were astounded that these were available to a child. How can a 12-year-old child, at the time, acquire these? She can91裸聊视频檛 buy marijuana at a dispensary,91裸聊视频� Charles said.
During one incident in July of this year, Brianna physically assaulted both her mom and Charles. She was removed from the home and sent to a youth shelter, where she stayed one night.
She was reported missing, and police found her and told her parents that she was safe with another adult. It wasn't until later that Charles and Sarah discovered that Brianna was staying in a homeless camp. They didn't know the woman she was with.
They brought her food and clothing, and urged her to come home.
91裸聊视频淪he didn91裸聊视频檛 want to return home 91裸聊视频� She goes, 91裸聊视频榃hy? I can do whatever I want out here.91裸聊视频� It didn91裸聊视频檛 make any sense,91裸聊视频� Charles said.
Not long after, they received the devastating news of Brianna91裸聊视频檚 death and, in September, the death of her close friend, 13-year-old Chayton Point of Mission, also from a drug overdose.
Charles told the Standing Committee on Health that more needs to be done to prevent further deaths like those of Brianna and Chayton.
91裸聊视频淚 think if Brianna had access to the proper mental health, she91裸聊视频檇 still be here today and be able to tell you this herself. Instead, we have to speak on her behalf because she91裸聊视频檚 no longer with us,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� We do need change, and it needs to be now. Our children are dying, and no other parents should be going through this pain.91裸聊视频�
MP Brad Vis (Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon) was present for the session.
91裸聊视频淒espite her age, (Brianna91裸聊视频檚) parents said she was able to obtain drug paraphernalia from Fraser Health, including needles, crack pipes, cooking kits and pamphlets on how to cook and use drugs 91裸聊视频榮afely,91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� Justin Trudeau91裸聊视频檚 experiment to legalize hard drugs has failed, leaving ruined lives in its wake.91裸聊视频�
A has been started to raise money for Brianna91裸聊视频檚 funeral expenses. It can be accessed by searching 91裸聊视频淚n Loving Memory of Brianna Leigh Macdonald91裸聊视频� at gofundme.com
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