Watching the birth and growth of the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada has been a bright light in a dark time. I know the Foundation will have an impact, and I hope a big impact, in the fight against this heartbreaking, confusing and devastating disease.

Addiction is a fierce illness. I have watched it entrap its victims and keep them in its grip. I watched my son try and try everything, every available treatment, and yet fall back again and again.

Addiction tears its way through families, ruins friendships, destroys careers and cuts short lives that should have been long, productive and happy. That Matthew had the good fortune to be able to pay for the best current help, that he never had to wait in line for that help, and yet died so tragically in spite of it all is certainly proof of that.

But there are many thousands – millions – of individual stories of addiction in Canada, and those were the stories and the people on Matthew’s mind during the last days of his life. He wanted so much to help. He believed, and so do I, that there has to be a better way.

I miss Matthew with every breath I take.

And I am so proud of his sister Caitlin, as she helps lead the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada in the hunt for new solutions – and for the kind of help that will save lives.

Suzanne Morrison