His daughter, who struggled with alcohol use, had recently wanted to go to a dry-out centre but was told the wait was between six weeks and six months, he said.

She was among the recent deaths in Tsulquate. “I’ve been in a dark place since,” Walkus said. “There’s no words to describe that emotion.”

Addiction is such that it takes a tremendous amount of courage to even recognize the problem, let alone ask for help. To Finally muster up the conviction to do better for oneself, and to be told to come back later… is a death sentence. They might as well have given her a couple shooters as they turned her away.