PATIENT PERSPECTIVES
After the Fall
Mother and daughter take different opioid paths
By Stuart Foxman
Donna May is
co-founder of a
coalition of parents
who work to advocate
for action on opioids.
W
hen you tumble down a flight of
stairs, how long does it take to reach
the bottom? For Donna May’s daugh-
ter, Jac, about nine years.
In 2003, Jac stumbled, fell and hit a concrete landing
in her Sault Ste. Marie basement. She hurt her back,
had deep tissue bruising and broke her clavicle. Jac was
25, a mother to two children, and was about to get her
first prescription for OxyContin.
Before her daughter did, Ms. May had her own
experience with opioids. She understands that for many
people, they are of real benefit. But she also knows that
not everyone is a candidate for opioid therapy. And for
some people, they may only worsen a bad situation.
Ms. May is the co-founder of mumsDU – Moms
United and Mandated to Saving the Lives of Drug Us-
ers (mumsdu.com). This coalition of parents works with
communities, policy makers and health-care profession-
als to advocate for action around opioids.
The group call s for progress on harm reduction poli-
cies (e.g., ready access to detox and treatment facilities);
access to Naloxone for all first responders (including the
families of opioid users); and initiatives for the continu-
ing education of opioid prescribers.
Ms. May looks back on her daughter’s struggles with
some bewilderment. “I thought I did the best I could
ISSUE 3, 2017 DIALOGUE
33