A grieving Surrey mom is demanding answers about regulation and oversight of recovery houses, following the overdose death of her son at a Lower Mainland facility.

Maggie Plett said she couldn害羞草研究所檛 believe the conditions she witnessed when she went to pick up her son Zach害羞草研究所檚 belongings hours after learning he害羞草研究所檇 died last December.

害羞草研究所淚 went over to the house to collect his things. I害羞草研究所檓 glad I did, but it was brutal,害羞草研究所� Plett told Peace Arch News.

害羞草研究所淚 wouldn害羞草研究所檛 let a dead animal rot in that place. There was mould on his bed sheets. I害羞草研究所檝e never seen anything like this. The roommate was already wearing a pair of his shoes.害羞草研究所�

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Plett said 21-year-old Zach was found face-down on his bed at around 4 p.m. on Dec. 15, and, judging by the time of death pinpointed by the coroner 害羞草研究所� between 9 a.m. and noon 害羞草研究所� had been dead for hours before anyone noticed.

She wants to know why, in a facility that害羞草研究所檚 purporting to be helping people recover from addiction, no one thought to check on Zach; where he was, or if he was OK. And if they did, why no one recognized that he needed help.

害羞草研究所淢y son would害羞草研究所檝e been better off homeless,害羞草研究所� Plett said. 害羞草研究所淎t least he would害羞草研究所檝e been on the street, somebody would害羞草研究所檝e found him.害羞草研究所�

Troubled recovery homes 害羞草研究所� both regulated and unregulated 害羞草研究所� are not a new issue in Surrey. Five years ago, city officials shut down more than 100 unregulated operations in a seven-month period, and continued to investigate dozens more.

While the overall situation has reportedly 害羞草研究所渟ignificantly害羞草研究所� improved, and efforts of a committee formed two years ago to tackle problem properties continue, staying on top of it remains an ongoing challenge.

害羞草研究所淚n about the past year 害羞草研究所� a little over a year 害羞草研究所� we害羞草研究所檝e had 87 investigations that were initiated against alleged unregistered recovery or rooming houses,害羞草研究所� City of Surrey bylaw services manager Kim Marosevich said last week.

Of those, 26 were not deemed to be operating as a recovery or rooming house; and 28 that were found to be violating city rules voluntarily ceased operating at the direction of bylaw officers, Marosevich said.

害羞草研究所淭hat leaves us with 33 open files, where we are continuing to work with the property owner or agent to figure out how to bring the property into compliance.害羞草研究所�

The city currently has five open investigations involving licensed recovery homes.

Surrey RCMP Cpl. Bob Keay, a member of the aforementioned committee, also acknowledged that problems continue.

害羞草研究所淚 understand that there are some families that have had some tragedy because of these rooming houses,害羞草研究所� Keay said.

害羞草研究所淥bviously, we害羞草研究所檙e always looking to try to find ways to rectify this concern.害羞草研究所�

Marosevich said the city has 害羞草研究所渁 fairly well-established relationship害羞草研究所� with its 55 regulated operators. She acknowledged that conditions described by Plett have been noted by bylaw officers 害羞草研究所渂oth in places that are operating as alleged recovery homes and places that are simply operating as rooming houses.害羞草研究所�

Gifted student with a contagious laugh

Zach Plett grew up in Ladner with his two sisters, Callie and Cassie. Callie was two years older; Cassie, two years younger. As a kid, Zach was smart, kind, athletic and popular. He played rep hockey and high-level baseball, and did well in school.

For reasons his mom still doesn害羞草研究所檛 understand 害羞草研究所� but said may have been related to mental-health struggles (yet another aspect of Zach害羞草研究所檚 life where his family feels existing resources failed him) 害羞草研究所� Zach started getting into drugs at age 15.

害羞草研究所淗e was really smart, straight-A student, gifted 害羞草研究所� especially in mathematics,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 know what happened.害羞草研究所�

Tributes in the months after Zach died describe his kindness and patience, his contagious laughter and the closeness he had with his mother.

Callie gave PAN a copy of what she shared with friends and family who attended a service held last January in Zach害羞草研究所檚 honour. It opens with the attribute she loved most about her brother: his laugh.

It 害羞草研究所渘ever faltered,害羞草研究所� no matter how dark things got for him, she wrote.

害羞草研究所淚t was always a glimpse into who Zach really was.害羞草研究所�

Callie described Zach as loyal and protective of those he cared about; someone who valued family above all else.

害羞草研究所淏ut, I害羞草研究所檓 not going to sugar coat things,害羞草研究所� she continued.

害羞草研究所淔or the past seven years or so, Zach struggled every single day. He constantly battled a darkness that many of us couldn害羞草研究所檛 even imagine, and I think the fact that he survived and accomplished so much in his twenty-one years is an incredible feat.害羞草研究所�

She described the overdose crisis 害羞草研究所� which last year killed 1,514 people in B.C., 212 of those in Surrey (including Zach and at least three of his friends) 害羞草研究所� as 害羞草研究所渁n epidemic.害羞草研究所�

BC Coroners害羞草研究所� Service officials estimate eight deaths have occurred in registered private treatment or unregistered facilities since 2015.

In the first three months of this year, Surrey logged 33 illicit-drug overdose deaths.

According to data compiled through toxicology reports, fentanyl was detected in 85 per cent of the 2018 deaths, up from 82 per cent in 2017.

Zach, too, died from a fentanyl overdose, and it was learning that detail last month that prompted his mom to go public with his story. The coroner told Plett that the amount of the opioid in Zach害羞草研究所檚 system wouldn害羞草研究所檛 have killed someone who was using it on a regular basis, as Zach once did.

害羞草研究所淢y son hadn害羞草研究所檛 used fentanyl in six months,害羞草研究所� Plett said.

害羞草研究所楧on害羞草研究所檛 worry about it, mom害羞草研究所�

Zach had only been back in Surrey 害羞草研究所� a decision Plett said she had not supported due to the prevalence of fentanyl and other opioids in the city 害羞草研究所� for about a week when he died. Prior to his return, he害羞草研究所檇 been in Gimli, Man., where he attended what his mom describes as an 害羞草研究所渁wesome害羞草研究所� rehabilitation centre, making gains in his battle to get a handle on his addiction.

But after that program 害羞草研究所� and a brief relapse, followed by another month in the treatment centre 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所渉e missed home, he wanted to come home,害羞草研究所� she said.

Due to his addiction and the 害羞草研究所渞eally rocky road害羞草研究所� it had put the family on for so many years, Zach knew he couldn害羞草研究所檛 stay with his mom at her townhome, and the two agreed he would go to a recovery house.

Plett said she got the name and phone number for a facility in Surrey from someone she thought she could trust. He told her to e-transfer $950 to the society, and that Zach would be helped to get on social assistance, which would cover fees for his stay going forward.

Later that evening, Plett said Zach called her to say he害羞草研究所檇 been taken to a different home 害羞草研究所� a six-bedroom house in North Surrey, packed with 18 men who shared two bathrooms, only one of which was functioning properly. He also described black mould, Plett said.

There was some structure, at least 害羞草研究所� residents had a schedule to follow, around chores, breakfast, when to wake up.

Zach asked his mom to bring him a clean blanket and pillow, which she did. That brief visit was the last time Plett saw her son.

The next day, he called to tell her he was being kicked out for 害羞草研究所渃ausing problems,害羞草研究所� which Plett learned was due to Zach害羞草研究所檚 disclosures to her regarding conditions at the house.

害羞草研究所淭hey told Zach you害羞草研究所檙e not to talk about this house outside these walls,害羞草研究所� she said.

Dropped off at another facility, a few blocks west of Queen Elizabeth Secondary, Zach told his mom the conditions were no better, save for the fact he was allowed to keep his phone.

害羞草研究所淚 said, 害羞草研究所榃hat害羞草研究所檚 it like? Any better?害羞草研究所� He said, 害羞草研究所業t害羞草研究所檚 the same. Don害羞草研究所檛 worry about it, mom.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淗e was dead two days later.害羞草研究所�

The evening before he died, a Friday, Zach called to tell his mom that he and his roommate were going to a recovery meeting. Plett害羞草研究所檚 confident he went, as she found signed paperwork amongst his belongings that confirmed his attendance. How long he and the roommate were there, if they went anywhere before returning to the recovery home and exactly what they did before Zach crawled into bed 害羞草研究所� one woman at the house reported the pair were using until around 5 a.m. Dec. 15 害羞草研究所� remain among Plett害羞草研究所檚 unanswered questions.

The dinnertime call was the last time Plett spoke to her son. Around the same time the following day, her phone rang again, only this time, it was a police officer on the other end of the line.

害羞草研究所淭hey told me they needed to speak to me, so I knew,害羞草研究所� Plett said, holding Zach害羞草研究所檚 pillow in her lap.

害羞草研究所楳y son should never have died there害羞草研究所�

To this day, Plett doesn害羞草研究所檛 know who received the $950 she transferred, or what it paid for.

Why no one had checked on Zach and how it is that the recovery house where he died could be operating with the conditions she witnessed and no apparent enforcement, for Plett, is beyond comprehension.

害羞草研究所淚 want to know why those places are funded by government,害羞草研究所� she said.

The home where Zach died is on the province害羞草研究所檚 Assisted Living Registry, which is required of publicly subsidized and private-pay residences that meet the definition of such residences under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act. According to the province害羞草研究所檚 website, the mandate of the registrar is 害羞草研究所渢o protect the health and safety of assisted living residents.害羞草研究所�

According to the ALR, there are currently three 害羞草研究所榮ubstantiated complaints害羞草研究所� against the site where Zach died.

The two most recent files, updated May 8, cite non-compliance with regard to staff skills and safe site management; residents害羞草研究所� access to information about the residence, supports and services prior to entering; and psychosocial supports that assist in long-term recovery.

The third file, dating back to November, cites non-compliance in providing a 害羞草研究所渟afe, secure and sanitary environment害羞草研究所� for residents; safely prepared and nutritious meals; and more.

Marosevich confirmed the City of Surrey has seven investigations on file against the same house. The last active file was in October of last year, and there are no open investigations at this time, she said.

Marosevich said she couldn害羞草研究所檛 elaborate on details of the complaints, but emphasized that the city primarily deals with issues surrounding external concerns, such as unsightly property and noise.

害羞草研究所淗aving a complaint isn害羞草研究所檛 necessarily validation of an issue, or that there害羞草研究所檚 been enforcement action taken,害羞草研究所� she added.

Complaints regarding operations or programming should be directed to the province, she said, however, any made to the city would 害羞草研究所渃ertainly generate a file害羞草研究所� that could result in a parallel investigation.

Marosevich said it surprised her to learn of the circumstances surrounding Zach害羞草研究所檚 death occurring in a recovery home that is both ALR-registered and licensed by the city.

害羞草研究所淚t does. I害羞草研究所檓 terribly sorry for him and his family,害羞草研究所� she said.

As of May 27, the site remained one of the city害羞草研究所檚 licensed operators, although Marosevich said the list is 害羞草研究所渄efinitely in flux right now.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭here are several that have licences that the province has currently removed the registration,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淲e are in the process of open investigations for those.害羞草研究所�

One challenge in cancelling any such licence, she noted, is the people who are using the facility. A transition plan is needed 害羞草研究所渟o they don害羞草研究所檛 end up in a worse situation,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 still people who need to find places to live,害羞草研究所� she said.

Plett害羞草研究所檚 boyfriend 害羞草研究所� who asked to not be identified 害羞草研究所� said it害羞草研究所檚 unconscionable what Zach and others like him are subjected to, simply for profit.

害羞草研究所淭hese places that are out there, they害羞草研究所檙e saying they害羞草研究所檙e there to help. And they害羞草研究所檙e not,害羞草研究所� he said, describing the house where Zach died as 害羞草研究所渁n unbelievable dump,害羞草研究所� and the fact that no one had checked on him as 害羞草研究所渞idiculous.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲here害羞草研究所檚 the check and balance? There seems to be nothing,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a great money-making thing,害羞草研究所� he added. 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 always another addict.害羞草研究所�

Plett said she plans to take her concerns to her MP, 害羞草研究所渟ooner than later.害羞草研究所�

She also continues to wrestle with guilt around her son害羞草研究所檚 death. May 15 marked the five-month anniversary and 害羞草研究所渋t feels like yesterday,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 sorry that I made my son go to a place like that. I thought he was exaggerating.

害羞草研究所淢y son should never have died there.害羞草研究所�

Clear guidelines exist

In B.C., recovery houses must be registered with the province through the Assisted Living Registry 害羞草研究所� which has 害羞草研究所渧ery clear guidelines害羞草研究所� around health and safety, services to residents and staff conduct 害羞草研究所� and licensed through their respective municipalities, where jurisdiction revolves around property use.

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The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction provides registered homes with per diem funding of $30.90 per resident.

In 2016, the City of Surrey capped its allowed number of such facilities at 55. The ALR currently shows 50 registered sites in Surrey, a discrepancy Surrey bylaw services manager Kim Marosevich said is explained by the fact the city would require two operations in a duplex, for example, to have separate licences, even if the same operator was running them, while the province would consider the duplex as one operation.

Marosevich described the current incidence of encountering operations that are neither registered nor licensed as 害羞草研究所渇airly rare.害羞草研究所�

At the same time, bylaw officers have 害羞草研究所渁bsolutely害羞草研究所� seen conditions like those described by Plett.

害羞草研究所淣ot that long ago, maybe two months ago, we had eight properties in total where, essentially, the property owners had an agent managing the property on their behalf, and the agent put a bunch of people in properties that are slated for demolition,害羞草研究所� Marosevich said.

害羞草研究所淲e had害羞草研究所� situations where the hydro was turned off and people were living in these properties, and the property owners were unaware of what was happening because they had hired an agent.

害羞草研究所淪o, the agent was taking money from these tenants, essentially, and not paying the bills害羞草研究所� just collecting the revenues. It ended up taking almost a month to find appropriate housing through social-service connections for 33 people, that were living in squalor.害羞草研究所�

Marosevich noted that in the described circumstance, seniors comprised the majority of the affected residents.

害羞草研究所淧eople who are often the most vulnerable people in our communities are the ones that are subject to this victimization.害羞草研究所�

Ensuring such residents have a safe place to go is a factor in dealing with problem operations, she said.

South Surrey-White Rock MP Gordie Hogg said recovery houses that exist to simply prey on addicts 害羞草研究所渘eed to be exposed.害羞草研究所�

Marosevich said it害羞草研究所檚 challenging to find appropriate housing for people in need of recovery and 害羞草研究所渟hocking害羞草研究所� that operators who don害羞草研究所檛 have their clients害羞草研究所� best interests at heart are receiving funding that could potentially benefit those providing high-level programming and services.

Hogg and Marosevich both emphasized the importance of reporting sketchy operations.

害羞草研究所淏usiness inspectors have to be aware, neighbours have to report,害羞草研究所� Hogg said.

Marosevich also cautioned property owners who enlist agents to manage their properties.

害羞草研究所淏e aware, be clear, know what is happening on your property,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淏ecause at the end of the day, you are responsible for it, and we will find you.害羞草研究所�

tholmes@peacearchnews.com
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