QUEEN ANNE’S — With September as National Recovery Month, Queen Anne’s County welcomed Maryland’s Special Secretary of Overdose Response Emily Keller for a tour of county programs and departments dedicated to erasing stigma and taking a stand against substance abuse September 25.
Beginning at the Queen Anne’s County Department of Health in Centreville, the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services presented its focus on outreach, education and prevention programs.
Showcasing each journey to recovery was unique, but there were local travelers along the way, department Peer Support services offer one-on-one counseling, referral programs, outreach, and lending an empathic ear, Peer Supervisor Brook Todd said.
Providing resources for the community is a crucial aspect of preventing overdose deaths and just over the summer the department of health distributed 600 kits of Narcan to be available throughout the community, she said.
Over 100 One Boxes were also donated to businesses around the community, these kits contain CPR supplies, Narcan, gloves and everything needed in the event of an overdose.
A central focus of the Department of Health Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Services is erasing the stigma connotated with overdose.
“No place is hidden, it can happen anywhere,” Angulo Potts, peer recovery specialist said.
Housing and career opportunities are essential aspects of recovering from the disease of addiction and preventing relapse and the Department of Health requested assistance in streamlining the process to bring a recovery house to the county where there currently is none.
Keller noted the Maryland Office of Overdose Response is currently making it a priority to establish safe quality recovery houses and recommended collaboration with the county government.
More information about the Queen Anne’s County Health Department’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Services can be found at https://www.dontlabelus.org.
At the Queen Anne’s County Board of Education building, Keller heard about the activities and programs initiated by the QAC Drug Free Student Ambassadors, leading the way in youth advocacy.
Led by Julie Kille, opioid education and prevention coordinator, the Ambassador program puts students in role model positions to educate their peers on taking a stand against substance abuse and living naturally high.
With QAC Goes Purple, the Ambassadors work diligently with leadership opportunities and creative activities to spread awareness throughout the county with poster contests, collaborative community events and team-building exercises.
The Ambassadors recently won first place in the national Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration competition for their escape room sharing the dangers of pills with peers.
More information about QAC Goes Purple can be found at www.qacgoespurple.org.
Other stops on Keller’s visit included the County Chamber of Commerce in Chester and the Opioid Awareness Park in Stevensville.
Throughout her visit Keller reiterated that recovery was possible and Queen Anne’s County represented a prominent dedication to addressing overdose awareness for all ages in the community.
“It is great to hear what is going on. It is a hopeful time in Maryland,” she said.
More information about Maryland’s response to overdose and opioid awareness can be found at: https://stopoverdose.maryland.gov.
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