Jury releases recommendations in Oak Bay teen’s overdose following coroner’s inquest

Jury releases recommendations in Oak Bay teen’s overdose following coroner’s inquest
CHEK

A coroner’s jury released seven recommendations Thursday following an inquest into the overdose death of Oak Bay teen Elliot Eurchuk.

The seven recommendations range from developing processes for early detection of mental health and substance use disorders within schools to providing youth with long-term residential substance use disorder treatment facilities on Vancouver Island.

Eurchuk was found unresponsive in his bedroom on April 20, 2018. He died of an illicit drug overdose.

Eurchuk death came about two months after he was forcefully admitted under the Mental Health Act to a Victoria youth treatment ward for a week-long stay. His parents testified about their willingness to do whatever it took to help their son but said privacy laws restricted them from receiving medical information to address his addiction troubles.

The BC Coroners Service called the inquest saying the public has an interest in hearing the circumstances of the teen’s death, and that a jury would have the opportunity to make recommendations to prevent similar deaths. The eight-day inquest heard from more than 40 witnesses.

The full list of recommendations are:

For the Minister of Education

  • Develop processes for early detection of mental health and substance use disorders within schools
  • Develop and implement a plan to transition youth from acute care and addiction treatment to the schools
  • Provide education to students, parents or guardians, teachers and administrators on mental health and substance use disorders

For the Minister of Health

  • Develop and implement a plan to transition youth from health-care facilities back into community-based services
  • Streamline and co-ordinate access to available youth residential substance use disorder treatment beds and youth mental care beds within B.C.
  • Provide youth with more long-term substance use disorder treatment facilities throughout B.C.

CEO of Island Health 

  • Provide youth with long-term residential substance use disorder treatment facilities on Vancouver Island

With files from The Canadian Press

CHEK NewsCHEK News

Recent Stories

Send us your news tips and videos!