Mother of 3 among fentanyl-related deaths in St. John's area

One day in April, a Newfoundland mom of three boys overdosed and survived. The next week, she injectedheroin, and wasn't so lucky.

NikiChapman, 39, died the second person on the northeast Avalon known to have fatally overdosed on fentanyl.

Chapman puts a human face onthe tragic consequences of a deadly painkillerthat's reached Canada's most easterlyprovince.

"I was mad. Very mad. As a parent, you can't do anything about that type of thing," her father, Jim Chapman, told CBC News on Monday.

When you're sticking that needle in your arm or you're snorting it up your nose, just think, it might be your last time.- Jim Chapman

"I had a hint that she had an addiction problem and drugs and pills. It started with painkillers and stuff, and just got worse and worse It just crushed us."

As of Monday, Eastern Health said 18 people had overdosed. Two have been confirmed as fatal. However, police and others who provide outreach support say the number of overdosesis likely much higher.

Daughter used drugs to zone out

Jim Chapmanspoke by phone while travelling from Newfoundland to Alberta, where he lives. He came to the province to attend his daughter's funeral.

He said Niki Chapman"just didn't know how to deal" with family and relationship issues, and had been struggling with drugs.

Drugs, he said, were"her way of zoning out to try and kill the emotional pain that was going on in her life."

• 'It is a fentanyl-related death': St. John's woman 2nd fatal overdose, police say

Jim Chapman's son called him at 5 a.m. on April 26, while he was getting ready to work, and told him the bad news.

"That crushed us. Being so far away."

Police confirmed later that day that a 39-year-old woman died of a fentanyl-related overdose. She was found unresponsive in a home on Empire Avenue.

In speaking with police officers, Chapman said it seems as though there's no way to stop the deadly grip of fentanyl.

"They can't stop it. And it's coming. It's coming to Newfoundland now and these poor people these poor people that need help with addiction problems, a lot of them are going to die."

Chapman said the family hasnot yet received the results of his daughter's toxicology report.

Sons don't understand what's happening

He said he doesn't know where his daughter got the drugs, but that she went to St. John's from her home in Holyrooddays earlier to be with friends.

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"Alot ofthese people are sharing needles, passing it on," he explained."It's hard to track whothe person is bringing it. Police know who's bringing it but Idon'tthink they have the resources or help to stop it."

Niki Chapman leaves behind three boys under the age of 11. Their grandfather says they're doing OK, but don't fully understand what's happening.

His advice for others in his situation is to never give up on their loved ones, to stay with them and provide support.

"When you're sticking that needle in your arm or you're snorting it up your nose, just think, it might be your last time."

The Chapman family is asking that donations be made to any drug awareness charity, in lieu of flowers.

• Fentanyl and naloxone: Independent pharmacists want bigger role
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