Horrified at the death of his son from a methamphetamine overdose, a Quebec man wants to open the eyes of consumers and avoid further tragedy by holding a tribute concert despite “endless grief”.
“When we heard the news, it completely devastated us. It was horrifying, like we had been hit between the eyes with a sledgehammer,” recalls Jean Simard, still emotional just over a year after the death of his son Dominic Moisan.
The 39-year-old man died on May 22, 2021 after overdosing on methamphetamine at home alone. A naloxone shot was lying next to his body, a sign that he was trying in vain to save his life.
His body was not found until days after his death, when the landlord of his accommodation noticed that the place smelled of rot.
“We spoke to him that same day. He told us he would have a quiet evening and order Putin. He seemed happy, sighs Mr. Simard. We never saw it coming. »
Lots of relapses
According to his father, Dominic Moisan had been using drugs for a very long time. He started smoking cannabis in his youth, then took GHB among other things.
Dominik Moisan
deceased son
However, his parents had no idea he was using methamphetamine, a drug he had been injecting for a month, according to a friend.
“It had been years since his mother – Susy Moisan – and I had helped him in any way we could to help him rebuild. But it often fell back into the flat,” explains Jean Simard.
Despite refusing to return to therapy for years, his son came close to seeing a doctor weekly before losing his life. “We had hoped that he would find the right path,” breathes Mr. Simard.
One last goodbye
At her son’s funeral in July 2021, the 60-year-old Connexion group member had promised Ms Moisan that he would organize an event to mark International Overdose Awareness Day.
Against this background, Mr. Simard will give a tribute concert for his son on August 27th at LaScène Lebourgneuf. Organizations and former drug users will also testify to raise public awareness of this issue.
“It is a way for us to grieve and prevent others from falling into this trap. We wish Dominic didn’t die in vain,” concludes the bereaved father, who plans to eventually set up a foundation with the latter’s mother in his son’s name.
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