From Harford County government:
Seeking to prevent drug addiction among Harford County youth, Joe Ryan, manager of the Office of Drug Control Policy, gave a presentation on January 21 to Boy Scout Pack 830 and their families. The pack of fourth and fifth-graders learned refusal skills and heard up-to-date information on drug abuse, alcohol misuse and addiction. The scouts also gave back to the community by donating baby supplies to Project Healthy Delivery, an initiative under the administration of County Executive Barry Glassman to reduce substance abuse among pregnant women. The donations will be used as incentives to encourage those with a history of drug abuse to remain in their treatment programs.
“I am proud of the young scouts in Pack 830 for learning the facts about drug addiction, and for helping newborns get their best chance at a healthy life through Project Healthy Delivery,” County Executive Glassman said.
There are physical and emotional symptoms that occur when individuals are withdrawing from long term alcohol use. Withdrawal symptoms can be frightening, but they are a necessity, when trying to beat alcohol addiction.
For more information about Project Healthy Delivery or the Office of Drug Control Policy’s free presentation available for youth groups, civic and faith-based organizations, please call 410-638-3333 or email odcp@harfordcountymd.gov.
the real deal says
The real deal is this, Drugs are everywhere, I grew up all around them and when the proving grounds was booming in the 80’s and 90’s with soldiers way before 9/11 you could buy almost anything you wanted out there! Nobody searched the soldiers bags coming in from overseas. I remember in Aberdeen and Edgewood as a kid on any given day it was nothing for someone to open their trunk up and ask you if you wanted to buy a quarter of weed, or an 8 ball. It was all over the place. Watching so many people go down the wrong path and looking at all the horror involved with drugs, I stayed far away from it. I think the schools need to tell students the truth and maybe have some recovering crack addicts speak to the students about their experiences. We need to tell our children the truth. Drugs causes so many problems.
Just thinking.... says
I was just thinking the same thing…. if more recovering addicts and/or their families were given an audience, it might arm the young ones against the ‘cool’ factor….
Forever Amber says
I agree. I hope Joe Ryan, manager of the Office of Drug Control Policy, is reading these comments and taking them to heart. Letting people who know talk about their experiences with those who need to know is best.
Let’s face it, teens are very astute at smelling bullshit when they hear it. All these cutsey D.A.R.E programs and their like don’t approach the level of honesty these young people need to really understand what is going on. There is such a difference between these “just say no” approaches and hearing someone tell it like it was for them when they confronted drugs in a social situation.
Forever Amber says
Somehow, I don’t think the kiddies in this picture are the real target for drug education. It sounds like preaching to the choir to me.
How about trying to reach some young people who are in danger? They’re a little harder to organize than the Boy Scouts.
Reality says
Amber you would be wrong. This is exactly the group to target. Just like getting out the tobacco kills message starting young is the key.
But from your other comments you really aren’t that bright.
Forever Amber says
Perhaps you are right. Maybe I’m not too bright, but I’ll bet I have a better target audience for our manager of the Office of Drug Control Policy. .
How about taking his talks to various after school detention classes. I’m sure the audience will be more hostile and aggressive than the Boy Scouts, but these people might be in a little more danger than the Boy Scouts.
Designer says
I won’t say what my occupation is, but I can tell you from experience that children from “good” schools and neighborhoods are as vulnerable as those from not-so-good. In fact, in some ways they are more so because they have the financial means to get into the more serious drugs and designer drugs. Because they also have the support system to get help before their lives turn violent or lethal, they don’t attract the attention as those without the means, which makes it appear as though drug use isn’t as prevalent among that demographic.
The really real deal says
It’s only going to get worse with no means of ever getting better. Sorry for the outlook, you’re only lying to yourself if you think otherwise.
The really real deal says
Yeah, call me a defeatist.
Our method of EMS waiting for the “Pos. O.D.” call that’s now a daily routine in Harford County. “Social programs” and “Social meetings.”
Law Enforcement arresting/charging people with CDS for them only to get stet, PBJ, Nolle, Suspended sentences, Work release. “Clinics” that are a big cash cow for the people that own them.
360 degree’s of fail.