Family of man who died of apparent drug overdose wants people struggling to seek help
Mike Caron, a beloved father and a culinary student, died in November
"I miss him terribly."
Mark Caron remembers his son Mike Caron for his exuberance, passion and willingness to always help someone in need.
More than 100 people came together for a celebration-of-life event for Mike on Sunday.
He was just 30 when he died of a suspected drug overdose in November.
"It was very unexpected what happened to him, but part of it was the mental illness and the addiction to the drug," Mark explained.
Watch Mike Caron's father talk about losing his son to a drug overdose:
'Get some help'
Mike was a father to a young son, and a culinary student with a passion for food, getting ready to soon graduate from St. Clair College's Culinary Management Program.
He had battled addiction and mental health issues in the past. Friends said he appeared to have his life back on track, with a few bumps along the way.
Now, his family hopes to raise awareness and let people know that if they're struggling with addiction or mental health issues, help is available.
"For anybody struggling out there, my message to you is to get some help," Mark said.
"Being a father and having my son pass because of an addiction and because of his mental health, it was really difficult," he said, adding that he himself had struggled with alcohol addiction and is now almost 24 years sober.
He encourages people in Windsor to seek support through meetings or in-depth recovery programs.
He also hopes to see more education in schools teaching students from a young age about addiction and mental health so that they know there are supports they can access.
Importance of recovery
Mark explained that Mike had previously sought help from Brentwood Recovery Home, and that it had played an important role in his life.
"Mike was a pleasure to have around," said Marc Zakoor, a group leader at the home.
"Mike had been struggling, but he grabbed on to this program very quickly."
He said that Mike's life had been going in the right direction, and for this to have happened to him was "a mistake."
Drug addiction is "a big issue" in Windsor, Zakoor explained.
"Especially in my position working with youth, I see it all the time. Parents are calling all the time. Schools are calling. What do we need to do? What can we do?"
He invites people to reach out to the recovery home.
"Don't wait 'til it's too late because mistakes like this can happen in a minute."
'His spirit is with me'
Mark doesn't want to see other families having to face the kind of grief his family has been faced with.
Despite the grief, Mark explained that Sunday was a celebration and an opportunity for loved ones to share stories and memories of Mike.
"I'm looking up at the sky and I can see my son smiling. I get a shiver down my back once in a while," his father said.
"I'm actually getting one right now talking about him, so his spirit is with me."
If you're struggling or know someone who is, you can find a list of local addiction help hotlines on the Lifeline Canada Foundation website.
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With files from Jason Viau