CLEVELAND – Cathy Lawley of Willoughby Hills said her life changed forever after losing her 31-year-old son, Michael Biellow, to drugs on March 23, 2020.
Lawley issued a warning to all parents, after Cuyahoga County reported an increase in drug deaths, and urged them to sit down and talk to their children or loved ones about the dangers of seeking a quick fix. .
“Now we’re entering a paradigm shift, this is no longer a heroin overdose, and I want to emphasize that,” Lawley said.
“He was given fentanyl and carfentanil without knowing it, fentanyl is an elephant tranquilizer.”
“Your kids may go out because they have addiction issues, but they can also be at a party with other people and talk about how they can get raised once.”
“They’re not overdoses. They’re kids who think they’ll get something and they won’t do anything about it. They’re dying.”
Cuyahoga County coroner Dr. Thomas Gilson issued a public health alert on April 6 stating that Cuyahoga County has suffered at least 69 suspected overdose deaths in March.
Gilson told News 5 if deaths continue at this rate, Cuyahoga County could again see more than 700 deaths from overdoses. The last time Cuyahoga County suffered more than 700 deaths was in 2017. In addition, there have been 13 overdose deaths during the first five days of April.
An important part of the deaths are attributed to fentanyl and carfentanil
Local agencies such as the Cuyahoga County ADAMHS Board and the MetroHealth System Opioid Safety Office said the alarming rise in drug-related deaths is prompting families to seek resources.
Beth Zietlow-DeJesus, director of Foreign Affairs at the Adams Council, told News that families 5 should watch for signs of drug use and addiction.
“They’re not statistics, they’re human beings, they’re brothers, sisters, parents, children,” Zietlow-DeJesus said. “When there’s a cluster, as we see it now, it just breaks us.”
“The person living with a substance use disorder has a chronic brain disease, they need medical treatment, advice and care to improve.”
“Look for secret behaviors, being very defensive, irritable and angry.”
Kelly Cioletti, Social Work Coordinator for the MetroHealth System Opioid Security Office, said the broadcast of News 5 is available, along with her Enrollment Dissemination Unit, published on West 25th Street in Cleveland , in front of the MetroHealth outpatient ward. Cioletti said Narcan kits and free Fentanyl test strips are available Monday through Friday through its Project DAWN program.
“We’re available, literally 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” Cioletti said. “You don’t need any ID, you don’t need to use it, you can be a family member or friend.”
“Before everyone thought it was a drug in the city, and it’s not anymore.”
“It’s alarming, it’s scary, I’m sorry for the families who take care of it, and unfortunately you have to bury a loved one.”
Meanwhile, Lawley has helped form “APALD,” which means the Association of People Against Lethal Drugs. Lawley said the organization will hold a rally for change on June 4 in 30 cities in the county, raising awareness and advocating for legislative change in the war on synthetic drugs, which the CDC reported killed 81,000 in 2020.
Lawley said he was doing everything he could to honor his son, as a way to help families save their loved ones.
“I would tell you that I love you more than you will ever know and that I have you in my heart every day and I am your voice,” Lawley said.
“I know I would like him to keep going and try and keep quiet until my voice is heard.”