‘I had to do something’: Grand Strand mother shares son’s story to help end addiction stigma

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.

A local mother from Grand Strand, Jonica Boland, has made it her mission to eliminate the stigma surrounding addiction. Boland has embarked on this path by sharing the tragic story of her son, Jonathan, who succumbed to drug overdose at the young age of 36.

Boland remembers Jonathan as a charming, energetic individual who was passionate about surfing. Despite his love for life, Jonathan was unable to leave behind his substance addiction, and he spent many years in and out of detention facilities. Boland often visited her son in these places of confinement.

A Mother’s Worst Nightmare

With the intention of supporting and not enabling her son, Boland believed Jonathan had finally begun to get a grip on his addiction in early 2020. A mother’s day lunch was planned, a day that was supposed to be of celebration. Instead, the mother’s joy was replaced with immeasurable sorrow when she was informed that her son had passed away due to a fatal fentanyl overdose.

In the aftermath of her son’s tragic demise, Boland decided to do something constructive: “After you get over the tears, and the frustration, and that call that I wish I never would have gotten, that’s when I decided I had to do something,” she said, tears filling her eyes.

Actions Against Addiction

Boland started her journey by meeting with law enforcement in Georgetown County. She then began delivering thought-provoking speeches to high schoolers about the storyline of her son’s addiction. She coined a deeply impactful tagline: “Surf’s up, but where’s Jonathan?” This phrase has resonated with countless individuals residing in the Grand Strand, a community that closely identifies with the trauma of drug addiction.

This year, approximately 75 overdoses and 12 suspected overdose deaths have been reported in Myrtle Beach city alone, illustrating the addiction crisis at hand. In an effort to spread awareness and offer hope, the city will host the National Overdose Awareness Day event this Saturday at Chapin Memorial Library. This event will provide an important platform for individuals like Boland to share their personal stories.

Boland is determined to continue sharing her son’s story to pave the way for a possible solution: “We’ve got to stop it, and if I can just keep one child from dying, I will keep doing this,” she said, reaffirming her commitment.

Event Details

The National Overdose Awareness Day event is free to attend and open to the public. It will run from noon to 2 p.m. this Saturday. Updates about future events and measures will be provided by HERE News Network.

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