The accidental death of Kathryn McParland at her home in Kamloops on December 5, 2020, was the result of mixed fentanyl and etizolam toxicity, according to a BC Coroners Service report released this week. The combination of the two drugs could cause severe depression and respiratory failure, according to a report signed by medical examiner Kristen Evanski on September 22nd. The report states that McParland was found lying on her back on the floor, with tools of illicit drugs next to her and no signs of injury or aggressive play.

Achievements and challenges

McParland, 33, was the founder and CEO of A Way Home Kamloops, a non-profit organization working to end youth homelessness. He also served on the BC Housing council, was co-chair of the BC Coalition to End Youthlessness, and was a member of the federal government’s homelessness advisory committee. She died just a week before Campout to End Youthlessness, an event organized by her organization every December in Kamloops to raise public awareness of the issue. McParland went through 28 different foster homes before leaving the foster care system at 19. She was homeless after that for a long time, but went on to pursue a master’s degree in social work leadership. Her friends said she was struggling with her mental health at the time of her death. Kamloops’s former adviser, Tina Lange, said her close friend McParland had mental health problems before she died. (Courtney Dickson / CBC)
The medical examiner’s report says McParland had a history of using illicit substances before her death. He added that he had been away for a long time before relapsing and needed to receive hospital treatment for drug-related complications in November 2020. “At the time of her death, Ms McParland was not followed by a doctor, had not participated in any recovery programs and was not being treated with an opioid agonist,” the forensic report said. She also says no autopsy was performed on McParland because the cause of her death could only be determined through a toxicity analysis.

The legacy was remembered

Earlier this month, the province was called a scholarship for post-secondary social work students experiencing post-McParland housing instability to honor its heritage. Young adults who have experienced housing instability are invited to apply for a scholarship https://t.co/tx7bhPYLVm – @ MitziDeanBC
A Way Home Kamloops says it will continue McParland’s work to support young people living with homelessness and addictions. “One of the biggest barriers to accessing support is the stigma attached to substance use,” the group said in a statement on Thursday. “We hope that understanding Kathryn’s struggle will help people understand the need for more accessible support and inspire many to take action in whatever way is available.”