An accidental overdose killed his son. Now this Niagara man is trying to save other young people

When Steve Borisenkopicked upthe phone the morning of June 11, the St. Catharines, Ont., manlearned his 21-year-old son Jakehad died afteran accidentaldrug overdose.

"I was crippled," Borisenko said.

But now, he's working on a project a website and a special app to help other youth, honouring his son in the process.

Borisenkosaid Jacobbattled depression for months during the pandemic and was self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.

His son took what he thought was a street version ofXanax,Borisenkosaid,but itwas actuallysome other mix of drugs laced with fentanyl.

Borisenko said Jacob was fiercely loyal, hilarious and had a budding passion for cars.

"He took the wrong pill on the wrong nightfrom the wrong person and he paid the price, the ultimate price," Borisenko said.

Niagara opioid use hit all-time high

In Niagara, opioid use hit an all-time high in March, according toMarty Mako, the mobile integrated health commander with Niagara Emergency Medical Services.

He said there were 84 suspected opioid overdoses.

From January 2021 to the end of June, data online showsparamedics responded to 404suspected opioidoverdoses.

That's roughly one overdose every 12 hours.

The long-term goal for me isto give my son's life purpose ...the torch has been passed to me. He was my only son.I can't have him die for no reason.- Steve Borisenko

Mako said that last year, there were 625 suspected overdosesand 499 in 2019, which means this year is set to see a record number.

"It's quite troubling looking at those stats ... those are numbers, but they actually are individual people in our community," he said.

"I've heard some people call it the shadow pandemic."

Mako saidmost calls involvedmen between 25 and 44 years old. The majority of calls are from St. Catharines and Niagara Falls.

Mako said the local drug supply is stronger than it has been in the past and, as a result, fentanyl overdosesare on the rise.Reports of a stronger fentanyl with a pink or purple colour have come upacross Ontario.

"People are not always consuming what they think they're consuming."

Anyoneusing drugs shouldn't do so alone, and should have the fentanyl rescue drugnaloxone nearby, he said, pointing to an increase in incidents of people dyingwith no one else around.

Jacob's dad makingapp to save others

Just days after Jacob's death, his dad took action.

"I'm much better when I'm fighting this than I am just sitting in gloom," Borisenkosaid.

Thewebsitehe designed is called Jacobs Wall and he's developing an app to protect other youth. He also aims tocollect donationsto help realize the vision.

Borisenko said he wants the app to be hidden on the user's phone and have it include a panic button that would alert a family member or confidant, send the user's location andallow the familyto help.

Borisenko also wants peopleto report where drugs are in a community to help others avoid those spots in the area.

He saidthere needs to bestricter criminal penalties against drug dealers.

"The long-term goal for me isto give my son's life purpose ...the torch has been passed to me. He was my only son.I can't have him die for no reason."