Note: we are republishing this story, which originally made the news in August 2016.
A 16-year-old girl was found dead of a suspected overdose in a Starbucks bathroom.
Gwynevere Staddon was found unresponsive in the bathroom of a Port Moody Starbucks by an employee, reports Global News.
According to Port Moody police, the teen couldn’t be revived by emergency responders. She was found with a small amount of drugs and paraphernalia in her possession.
Staddon’s mother, Veronica, says she “completely suspects” that her daughter died from an overdose of fentanyl, says CBC. Her official cause of death has yet to be determined.
“My best friend, my daughter, my sweetheart baby … I will never stop missing you,” the mother wrote on Facebook. “My heart won’t stop breaking.”
According to Veronica, Gwynevere had been struggling with substance abuse for some time. Prior to her death, she told her mother she had stopped using for three weeks.
“I’ve quit, so I’m OK now, Mom,” Veronica recalled Gwynevere saying. “It was calling out her name, and so she thought, ‘One more time.’ The one more time was the very last time.”
Veronica says she looked into putting Gwynevere into rehab, but the wait lists for public clinics are too long and she could not afford a private clinic.
“If I don’t have $50,000 available, then they are not something I can use as a resource,” she told CBC.
“The whole world is missing out on a born entertainer,” Veronica continued. “Either that, or a future politician.”
Veronica says she wants to see more done to get drug dealers off the streets and to provide rehabilitation to those in need.
Sources: CBC, Global News
The tragic death of 16-year-old Gwynevere Staddon in a Starbucks bathroom due to a suspected overdose has once again brought attention to the ongoing issue of substance abuse and the lack of resources available for those struggling with addiction.
Gwynevere’s mother, Veronica, expressed her devastation over the loss of her daughter, who had been battling substance abuse for some time. Despite Gwynevere’s efforts to quit, she ultimately succumbed to the temptation of using drugs again, leading to her untimely death.
Veronica’s frustration with the limited options for rehabilitation services is a sentiment shared by many families who are desperate to help their loved ones overcome addiction. The high cost of private clinics and long wait lists for public facilities often leave individuals without access to the help they need.
In the wake of this tragedy, Veronica is calling for more action to be taken to remove drug dealers from the streets and to increase the availability of rehabilitation programs for those in need. She believes that by addressing these issues, more lives can be saved and families can be spared the pain of losing a loved one to addiction.
As the community mourns the loss of Gwynevere, her mother’s words serve as a powerful reminder of the devastating impact of substance abuse and the urgent need for greater support and resources to address this crisis.
The heartbreaking story of Gwynevere Staddon serves as a wake-up call to society about the importance of addressing addiction and providing accessible resources for those struggling with substance abuse. It is a reminder that behind every tragic headline is a real person with hopes, dreams, and loved ones who are left to grieve.