Ronda Holland had her bags packed.

She was ready - and even told her mom - she was on her way to Vancouver.

And then she decided to do one more hit of cocaine.

害羞草研究所淚 loved my daughter; she has four wonderful kids. She wasn害羞草研究所檛 a druggie on the streets 害羞草研究所� She was straight for seven years.害羞草研究所�

Just one more hit, before Ronda Holland returned to detox, in Vancouver.

Pat Holland said it was that last hit that killed the Comox Valley resident.

It wasn害羞草研究所檛 the cocaine, said Holland, but the fentanyl it was laced with, that took her daughter害羞草研究所檚 life.

Ronda passed away Aug. 22 and left behind her mom, her two sets of twins, two siblings, and family and friends.

害羞草研究所淪he had no intentions of dying. She was going to Vancouver - she had made plans with her daughter to go. She just didn害羞草研究所檛 know (fentanyl) was in there. I wonder how many other drug addicts really don害羞草研究所檛 know that it害羞草研究所檚 in everything.害羞草研究所�

Her drug use came as no surprise to Pat, as she supported her daughter throughout her life. When she first found out about her daughter using street drugs years ago, she said there was no cause for concern about fentanyl.

害羞草研究所淚 knew what drugs she was on. It害羞草研究所檚 just a plain disease. You wouldn害羞草研究所檛 turn your daughter out if she had cancer. I never turned my back on her; I helped her each and every time as much as I could. There害羞草研究所檚 three things I learned about having an addict in my family: you can害羞草研究所檛 cure it, you can害羞草研究所檛 control it and you didn害羞草研究所檛 cause it.害羞草研究所�

Throughout the years, Ronda struggled with addiction. It was at her lowest point - not being able to see her children - when she made the decision to enter rehab. She was living on cardboard boxes on Hastings Street in Vancouver.

As she was walking down the street looking for her next hit, she saw a sign for First Step - a recovery centre - and walked in.

The facility accepted her immediately; she was in its program for nearly three years, and left sober. She stayed clean for seven years.

Pat said when her daughter found out that her husband was leaving her, 害羞草研究所渋t was just too much. She said over and over to me the pain was just too bad.害羞草研究所�

According to the latest statistics from the BC Coroners Service, fentanyl has been detected in more than four of every five illicit-drug overdose deaths in the province through the first seven months of 2017.

From January through July, 706 of the 876 suspected illicit drug deaths had fentanyl detected, representing an increase of 143 per cent over the same period in 2016.

While preliminary data shows there were 91 suspected drug overdose deaths in July alone - almost three a day - nine out of every 10 deaths occurred indoors. No death occurred at any supervised consumption site or at any of the drug overdose prevention sites.

Pat, who lives in Campbell River, fully supports and plans to volunteer at the supervised consumption sites in the city and in the Comox Valley.

害羞草研究所満π卟菅芯克��these places will teach a drug addict how to (use), and how to do it safely if they害羞草研究所檙e going to do it at all. You hope they don害羞草研究所檛 - you hope they get scared straight but that害羞草研究所檚 not happening. They害羞草研究所檝e got to get to these places to get the help and education they need.害羞草研究所�

She has now become an advocate for education - particularly on learning how to use and teach others to properly use naloxone kits.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 important to educate these parents who just want to shut the door on their drug-addict kid. The bottom line here is I would much rather have my daughter alive and using under control than dead.

害羞草研究所淲e can害羞草研究所檛 take the horse to the water and make them drink. I [would] much rather have my child educated on where and how to use it - never do it alone - do the tasting or sipping thing and always have their kits ready.害羞草研究所�

Pat said she initially expected pushback from her family for handing out the kits, but everyone thanked her for doing so.

害羞草研究所淏ecause I害羞草研究所檓 doing this out of love. I害羞草研究所檓 not doing it because I害羞草研究所檓 calling you a drug addict, but I害羞草研究所檓 doing it because it害羞草研究所檚 out there and it can happen to anybody.害羞草研究所�

For more information or to pick up a naloxone kit, visit avi.org for Comox Valley and Campbell River locations of AIDS Vancouver Island.