The mother of a young man who succumbed to drug addiction and mental illness says she is bent on breaking the fatal cycle.

Yesterday, Tina Olivero spent what would have been her son’s 21st birthday at the bench where he died almost two weeks ago in downtown St. John’s.

It’s become a solemn shrine of flowers, candles and messages for Ben Olivero, even as users continue to come and go for their fix in the area.

His mom was calling the situation an epidemic before his death; now she’s stepping up efforts until there’s an immediate and targeted response from the powers that be.

She says she owes it to her son, others like him, and the hundreds of parents who are either worried or grieving like herself.

“I’ve got 700 moms that reached out to me, and I can’t … just do nothing. I can’t just stand by and do nothing,” says Olivero. “I have to do everything I can so that’s there’s no more Bens out there. We have to do it for Ben.”

Olivero says it’s critical for anyone affected by addictions and mental illness to be seen and heard at next week’s rally.

It’s set for August 23rd at 2 p.m. on the front steps of Confederation Building.