'My heart goes out to you,' B.C. Premier Christy Clark writes to grieving mom

The mother of one of the youngest victims in B.C.'sfentanyl crisis says Premier Christy Clarkhas reached out to her with a promise to improve access to addiction treatment.

"I wasn't actually surprised to get that letter because I think her and I have a connection as mothers," said Veronica Staddon, whose 16-year-olddaughter Gwynevere died Aug.7, from a suspected fentanyl overdose.

[Clark]is not as hard as people think. VeronicaStaddon

Clark wrote:"My heart goes out to youI can only imagine how difficult this has been for you."

In the letter Clark promisesher task forcewill expand access to addiction treatment.

"I can promise you that your concern about waiting lists for Gwynevere and the many others who have been struggling just like her, and the costs for treatment as well will be included in those discussions."

Staddonhassaid in the months before her daughter's death, Gwynevere went to detox, took the anti-addiction medicationsuboxone but could not find a rehab facility that would treat her.

"I found beds that I could pay alot of money for" said Staddon, who did not have the $50,000to pay the one facility willing to take Gwynevere.

Nostranger to Clark

Long before Clark became premier, she used to take her son toStaddon'sbarbershop in Port Moody.

"That's how I saw her as a mother and a part of society rather than a political leader because that's how I first met her,"saidStaddonwho only recently opened the Aug. 31letter from Clark.

The premier is about to fall short of hercampaign promise to create 500 new addiction beds by 2017, but Staddon is hopeful she will keep the promise made to her in the letter.

"I pray for the kids out there that that's true," said Staddon, who says she is only speaking publicly because she believes her daughter would want herto try and help others struggling with addiction.

A photo of Clark and Staddonwas taken on a campaign stop at Staddon's barbershop during the last election.

"She cut my son's hair. It wasn't a political thing. It was a day-to-day, living life," said Clark in a recent interview with CBC News.

"Her loss and the loss of any other parent, I think all of us feel very deeply when we look at our own children because we alllove our kids so much," said Clark.

Staddon saidshe believes the premier's intentions are genuine.

"She is kinder, she is not as hard as people think she is."

"I think when you know someone personally like her and I know each other, we've chatted many times. It's different than thinking its someone else's kid that you don't know," said Staddon.

Not impressed with task force

But Staddon is not impressed with Clark's task force so far.

On Wednesday the province launched an awareness campaign that began with a three-minute video on YouTube featuring a grieving parent.

Staddon saidthat is not the best way to reach young drug users at risk of overdosing on fentanyl.

"They need something to be short and sweet and to the point but still they're notgoing to listen," said Staddon, who believes the videos are a waste of time.

Staddon admits she is still struggling, six weeks after her daughter's death.

"It's not fun to be around people because when I cry I cry out loud," said Staddon, who has not yet returned to work.

She says shehates that her daughter is now a statistic one of the 49 people who died of an overdose in August, according to the latest numbers from the BC Coroner's Service.

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