By Canadian Press

B.C. mom tells inquest into teen son’s death that she found drugs in his room

Jun 17, 2019 | 3:18 PM

VICTORIA — The mother of a Victoria teen who died of a drug overdose last year says she was shocked to discover her son had sedation drugs from her dental office stashed in his bedroom.

Rachel Staples, who is a dentist, told a coroner’s inquest into Elliot Eurchuk’s death that she suspected her son was perhaps smoking marijuana, but she had no idea about other drugs.

Staples is the first witness to testify at the inquest which is scheduled for eight days and is expected to hear from more than 40 witnesses.

The coroner called an inquest in March, saying the public has an interest in hearing the circumstances of the death of the 16-year-old, and that a jury would have the opportunity to make recommendations possibly preventing similar deaths.

Coroner’s counsel John Orr told the five-person jury at the start of the inquest that it wouldn’t be a fault-finding exercise, but they may have to determine if Eurchuk’s death was accidental or intentional.

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The inquest heard Eurchuk required pain medication for sports injuries that included a broken jaw and shoulder, while his mom told the jury she found the sedation medications and marijuana in her son’s bedroom in 2016.

The Canadian Press