(Toledo News Now) - One Holland mother is committed to removing the stigma of drug-related deaths after her son died of an overdose of heroin.
Connie Pelow, an addiction counselor, says her son was not a heroin addict, but he did experiment with some drugs. She says she has seen many others go through what she is going through now.
"To have to bury a child is… I just keep trying to move forward," Pelow says. "It has horribly impacted my life, my family's, my friends. And I know it has impacted many, many families."
Pelow decided to donate a portion of the memorial funds to the DART program, Drug and Alcohol Response Team, which is comprised of a team of deputies from the sheriff's office dedicated to assisting those who have overdosed in Toledo.
"The DART team, I'm very impressed with the DART team," says Pelow. "It's a great program. It's out there to raise awareness of, to help families deal with this, to show the empathy and compassion that's needed in all of this."
For more information on the DART team click here.
You can also find help in your area by going to the help hotline.
