Saskatoon sisters reflect on brother’s loss, call for more addiction support

Megan Isbister and Dayna Nippi say their younger brother is more than a statistic – he had a life worth remembering.

On the day after 26-year-old Jacob Isbister’s funeral, his sisters sat together, smiling through tears as they reminisced and shared cherished memories.

They said they hope to be a voice for those who have lost a loved one due to a drug overdose.

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“Jacob was a beacon of light,” Isbister said. “He was such a gentle, calm, kind spirit.”

“He was really protective as a little brother. He also had that quirkiness about him,” Nippi added.

“He would be such a big bug as well,” she added with a laugh. “He was always playing pranks… He was so funny all the time. He has had this big, beautiful smile, ever since he was a little boy.”

Jacob, who was born in Saskatoon, had aspirations to become a graphic designer or pursue a career in software design, a desire which was inspired by his love for video games.

Jacob Isbister’s sister described him as a “beacon of light.” (Mia Holowaychuk/650 CKOM)

“He would break records in his crew of gaming friends,” Isbister said. “He was often listed as one of the most skilled ones out of all of them.”

Jacob was also a movie buff, and had an ear for music.

“His passion was mostly guitar and bass. He was extremely, extremely talented,” Isbister said. “It all came very effortlessly for him.”

Isbister wrote in Jacob’s obituary that his love for hip hop started when he heard “Hypnotize” by the Notorious B.I.G. for the first time as a toddler.

“The moment the beat dropped, he started dancing with everything he had, marking the beginning of a lifelong passion for hip hop and music,” she wrote.

Isbister said she and her brother bonded over music, especially during drives when they would grab milkshakes and he would introduce her to the latest hip-hop artists.

“He was much cooler than me in that aspect, and always knew the latest artists with the newest tracks coming out,” Isbister said.

“I’m team Drake and he was team Kendrick, so he would razz me about that,” she added with a smile.

“He would give you the shirt off his back. He would give you his last smoke. He was always there for anybody who reached out.”

Jacob Isbister had a passion for hip-hop music and playing guitar. (Megan Isbister/Submitted)

A struggle with mental health and addiction

Jacob’s mother died when he was 18, and his sisters said that’s when his mental health started to decline.

According to Isbister, Jacob coped with the trauma in silence, putting the feelings of others before his own.

In Jacob’s 20s, he turned to alcohol in an effort to numb the pain of depression and anxiety. Isbister said he began associating with the “wrong crowd,” which eventually led to a drug addiction.

Isbister said she tried her best to offer him support, transportation, treatment options and access to naloxone – a nasal spray administered to temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. She said her brother wanted to seek help, but didn’t have the proper resources available, as long waiting lists for detox and treatment presented a barrier.

“When you’re put on a wait list, you have to get them in when that opportunity arises,” Isbister said.

“They can’t wait, because tomorrow they might not be here.”

According to Isbister, the last 18 months of Jacob’s life were the hardest, as he experienced a cycle of multiple emergency room visits and overdoses.

On March 15, Isbister received a call from police saying her brother had died of an overdose.

A call for more support

“I’m just really angry with the systems that we have and the lack of funding,” Isbister said. “The government is not taking this serious, (and) families are grieving right now.”

Isbister said she wants to see more funding going towards mental health and addiction services. She said she’s also pushing for decriminalization of drugs, instant access to detox centers and more wrap-around services.

However, Isbister said she is thankful for the support systems that were available to her brother, including the Irene and Leslie Dubé Centre for Mental Health, and the Next Steps Program.

In lieu of flowers at Jacob’s funeral, his family asked for donations to “causes that mattered in his journey,” such as Saskatoon Crisis Intervention Services, North Star Supportive Housing and Prairie Harm Reduction.

“I’m grateful that he didn’t overdose on the street, in a back alley somewhere. He was in the safety of where he was living, in his own space,” Isbister said.

Isbister and Nippi encouraged families facing similar challenges to support their loved ones and keep an open door without judgment.

Isbister’s said those who are struggling with addictions should not be afraid or ashamed to reach out for help.

“You are loved, and that trauma and pain that you’re carrying, if you go, doesn’t go away… it becomes your family’s burden to carry when you’re gone,” Isbister said.

“We all care about you. We all love you. It’s time to go home.”

The message is a timely one as the city finds itself in the midst of an overdose crisis. The Saskatoon Fire Department said it has responded to 761 overdose calls since January 1.