From Harford County government:
Children as young as 11 have reported using heroin in Harford County; it has been found in every Harford County ZIP code; it costs less than a movie ticket, and it can be addictive after just one use. To arm parents against this nationwide epidemic, a new series of Heroin Prevention & Awareness Briefings is planned this October in Harford County, through a partnership between the Glassman administration’s Office of Drug Control Policy, Harford County Public Schools, the Harford County Council of PTAs, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Health Department.
Students, their parents and caregivers, and all concerned citizens are invited to attend a session to learn new information about why opioids are so addictive, the connection between prescription drug misuse and heroin addiction, the increase of synthetic opioids and fentanyl in Harford County, the signs and symptoms to look for, and where you can go for help.
The hour-long sessions are free, and will feature John Wanner, an expert in the field of opiate addition and the impact of opioids on the brain. Mr. Wanner holds master’s degrees in chemical engineering, psychology, and business administration, and has worked in the fields of addiction and treatment for more than 12 years. In addition, presentations will be offered by Harford County Public Schools, the Harford County Narcotics Task Force and the Harford County Office of Drug Control Policy.
All presentations will start at 6:30 p.m. Citizens are welcome to attend a session on any of the following dates at these locations:
– Wednesday, October 5 – Edgewood High School
– Thursday, October 13 – C. Milton Wright High School
– Monday, October 24 – North Harford High School
The sessions will be interactive and individuals in the audience will have the opportunity to anonymously email questions throughout the presentation. Questions can also be emailed in advance to odcp@harfordcountymd.gov .
“I urge everyone to attend these important and potentially life-saving sessions,” said County Executive Barry Glassman. “County leaders are working closely every day to eradicate addiction in Harford County, but no government program is as powerful as parents talking to their children.”
“Every parent should attend one of these presentations,” said Sandra Monaco, president of Harford County Council PTA. “This is not a repeat of last year’s information. Instead, attendees will learn about the newest research available on heroin addiction. We all need to know what we can do to keep our kids safe.”
“No single entity can address the heroin epidemic that we are currently facing in Harford County,” said Barbara P. Canavan, superintendent of Harford County Public Schools. “As we continue to collaborate with the County Executive, the Harford County Council of PTAs, the Sheriff’s Office and the Health Department, we hope that our community will see the importance of community partnerships; these relationships are key to reaching each of our children in Harford County, before heroin does.”
“Last year I was extremely honored to be a part of the dynamic team that brought valuable presentations to the middle schools,” said Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler. “Each night was a packed house, demonstrating the commitment to the well-being of our children in Harford County. But, it was evident that there was still much work to be done. Over the next month, we will be presenting critical information in high schools throughout the county. The time to get involved is now. To end the heroin epidemic that has descended on our county, we all must work together in true partnership. Everyone has a role – legislators, government, schools, law enforcement, and parents.”
To learn more, to register for other community presentations and events, or to request a speaker presentation for your organization, neighborhood or business, please visit www.harfordcountymd.gov/services/drugcontrol or contact the Harford County Office of Drug Control Policy at 410-638-3333.
Capt. Obvious says
Other than C Milton Wright you all picked the wrong high schools for your presentation.
Frosty Beverage says
I’m not convinced this is worth attending. I don’t like being told information I already know.
I think if there was some major success on anything to reverse the addiction whether it be mental health or medical technology, it would all be over the news.
I think the addiction will never be solved, like cancer, diabetes, etc. Many people would be out of a job, and lots of money would not be coming in.
SoulCrusher says
The opioid addiction crisis that we currently see, not just in Harford County, but the entire country is by design. It comes from years of prescription abuse, non intervention and ignoring the real danger of opioids while the Criminal Justice System concentrated on things like marijuana. Doctors have been stocking Mom Mom and Pop Pop’s medicine cabinets since I was a child, while carelessly prescribing pain killers to the public at an alarming rate. I personally have a friend that gets prescribed 90 OxyContin 40mg and 180 percocet 10mg per month, yet sells practically the entire prescription. Gee, I wonder who ends up with those pills. You can talk to your blue in the face, but until the REAL designers of the current opioid problem are brought under control, you will never make any head way. Just for the record, I object to a “domestic terrorist” organization like the Harford County Narcotics Task Force interacting with youths at any level. Those guys should be in prison and definitely regarded as enemies of the public. Terrorism at any level should not be tolerated….even in the name of good.
Kharn says
You have a friend that is poisoning your community with his drugs, and you’re 1) still friends with him and 2) not calling the State Police to report him? Yeah, the task force is the problem…
SoulCrusher says
Love that Hitler youth mentality you employ. I have a friend that you suggest defriending and calling the police on them. Yeah, the Task Force is the problem, especially if you if your mentality was influenced by them. You don’t tell on family, friends, anyone you care about or anybody you can’t take one on one. Bad things happen and the Task Force always puts people in harms way, always. The system, created the hypocrisy he enjoys all at the expense of the public. Don’t complain to the truth, complain to your local Pain Management clinic……..
Point says
I think the point is that you have a friend who is a drug dealer, you won’t turn them in, yet you blame the situation on many things, but not the criminal and those who enable them. Whether you think “the system” created the environment to make dealing prescription narcotics possible, people like your friend have, as individuals, consciously made the decision to be drug dealers, and people like yourself who have the means to stop them stand idly by. Without people like you and your friend, “the system” would have no means of creating “the hypocrisy”, as you call it.
SoulCrusher says
I still wouldn’t turn them in. Its not in my modus operandi. I’ve known the man for 20 years and I don’t think I would be a very good friend turning him in. I know you guys believe the long arm of justice is supposed to reach everywhere, however, not by my hand….. You have ALL made it plain and clear to me, you wanted me as your enemy. Congratulations, I AM THAT……
Sam says
Oh point you are looking at this from the wrong perspective. When it comes to prescription drugs the dealers getting the masses hooked are the prescribing doctors that is their job. Big pharma does not want you to take some pills for a few weeks then get better that is not how they make billions.
If you had the ability to take every drug dealer out tomorrow do you really think the demand will some how go away? Clearly you do not understand the issues.
Open Your Eyes says
@ Kharn
Don’t waist your breath. You are trying to reason with someone who possesses a sovereign citizen mentality. The government has no right to in any way control his life. He gets to pick and choose which laws to abide by. So what if his friend is selling drugs to facilitate his or her addiction. So what if those drugs end up killing some one. It is not his concern. His concern is the Harford County Task Force who he was careless enough to get put on their radar and subsequently caught and prosecuted. Damn them domestic terrorist committing such terrible atrocities. Bastards!
Kharn says
Open Your Eyes,
He’ll foul up just like every other SC and create joinder with the wrong person. Then we’ll all get to laugh at his tazering when it goes viral.
SoulCrusher says
@Kharn – I was already threatened to be tasered. While I had my hands cuffed behind my back. Just ask David Waldsmith, he knows all about that, and it got him nothing…..
@Open Your Eyes – I’m not even gonna go at it with you. I know what I went thru and it was all illegal and unconstitutional.
@PR – The guy who does what he does is on a fixed income. He put in years of SSI, yet later in life suffered a disability. Since the SSI rules were changed, he gets next to nothing because now they only go off your last 5 or 2 years of income. Unsure about the exact number of years. So, NO, I’m not gonna tell on anyone and you guys can pay for the drugs he puts back into your system. Gotta make a living somehow…….
Kharn says
SoulCrusher:
If it’s not on video with a good “Don’t taze me bro!” or someone chanting “Worldstar!” in the background, it doesn’t count.
Kharnival says
World star? Don’t taze me bro? Wow, Aren’t you on top of all the hip E-culture.
Tell me more, f’n idiot.
PR says
@SC I wouldn’t argue with you that opioids are over prescribed but I imagine it’s difficult for the average doctor to look at a patient and say “no, you’re not really in pain so I’m not writing you a prescription for that”. One is left to rely on the patient’s honesty – a commodity which in the US is more and more difficult to find – but I suppose that’s understandable since the average American has nowhere to look to for any type of moral compass. Most refuse to look to religion and there won’t be any morality coming from the only people they will look up to… politicians and entertainers. Unfortunately, the bitterness over your run in with law enforcement seems to have marked your life in a profound manner. It dominates many of the postings you make here yet never seems to garner the sympathy to which you seem to feel entitled. That said, your “friend” who fraudulently obtains drugs then sells them into the community is in need of a long prison term. If I became aware that a “friend” was doing something like that they would no longer be a friend. In the world that you and your “friend” inhabit your “friend” is without blame since the doctor is the one at fault for… what, being suckered into believing his patient has a real need? You want to blame the “REAL designers of the current opioid problem” without ever allowing that personal responsibility – another vanishing commodity in the US – is the real issue. I suppose if your “friend” sells his stuff and some kid OD’s it’s no fault of yours even though you could have prevented it. Nice.
SoulCrusher says
No, its not my fault and no I don’t care. If someone wishes to put opioids in their body, especially after fighting addiction, then that’s their problem. If my friend can actually get by off of the money he makes, then good for him. Its the system that allows him to do it. Not me. NO, I don’t feel the need to start being a rat at this stage in my life, but you guys on this website don’t have any morals to begin with.
PR says
All I can say is… wow. “It’s the system that allows him to do it”. Well the “system” doesn’t prevent him from murdering everyone he meets but in your world that’s ok as long as he gets away with it and can earn enough to “get by”? Or maybe there’s a sliding scale of right versus wrong that you’re working from. Criminality is ok for a given level of harm upon a certain subset of people. I know… it’s always someone else’s fault. That seems to be where America is headed these days. He’s not doing anything wrong because the “system” allows him to do it. After all, if the “system” allows us to do what we know to be illegal shouldn’t we all feel compelled to do it on principle alone? If your idea of moral courage is to stand up for a criminal “friend” that fraudulently obtains opioids to illegally resell thereby adding to the problem with the “system” about which you yourself complain, then I suppose you’re correct that, from your perspective, I have no morals. I’m just not certain we’re using the same definition.
SoulCrusher says
The moral in question is loyalty, not which is right or wrong. However, I question the morality of many laws made as of late. Yes, I think opioid distribution is a problem. No, I would not partake in it.
A Realist says
The moral of this discussion is: Don’t tell everyone you’re friend sells prescription drugs to “get by” on the Internet. Especially if the police already know who “you”are… And if some junky kills your family (high on pills) driving,don’t complain and thank your “friend”…
SoulCrusher says
The moral of the story is hearsay is not evidence. The police can roll a turd. I don’t do anything wrong and I’m tired of this swan song. If a junky kills me or any of my family, then it was meant to be, just don’t say a prayer for me.
Billy Jack says
I would give great credibility to someone who speaks of ” the addiction” and assumes the name “Frosty Beverage”.
Frosty Beverage says
I didn’t speak of “the addiction.”
I just gave my opinion of it. Much like your candor.
You keep believing our dark ages of medicine and problem solving is having any effect in curing anything.
Go to Broadcastify, Harford Fire/EMS. Listen for all the OD calls yourself, bud.
Less dummies on welfare says
Natural selection at work. If you want to do drugs after everyone in the world has told you what might happen oh well… thin the herd
Kharn says
It used to be that 0.5-2mg of Narcan would work on just about any overdose, now it’s taking 6 or 8mg per patient. Dealers cut poor heroin with fentanyl for some extra kick, but the difference between a lethal dose and a recreational dose is minuscule, and dealers aren’t very good at geometric dilution to ensure the two are mixed evenly…
Moral Dilemma says
I believe some law officers have “NARCAN” to reverse an overdose.
Im sure they would administer the stuff to a child or eldery person who accidentally overdosed on medication.
The question is, how fast do they get to the scene of a known drug abuser?
Wasn’t there a ruling where the Police have no duty to protect you, could very well also include no duty to protect you from yourself?
Kharn says
Some areas have volunteers that are trained and provided with free Narcan, they’re alerted to nearby overdoses to see if they can respond faster than the police or EMS.
Moral Dilemma says
The question is (judging by my name) do Police run lights and sirens, pedal the metal, to a hypothetical known non contributor of the public, criminal, multiple time drug overdose to administer “NARCAN”?
I am ignorant to S.O.P. on Police NARCAN administration.
“Discretionary Powers” is probably taught in Police academies everywhere.
It seems like we are turning our Police into everyone’s everything. We have EMT people for the medical stuff.
Moral Dilemma says
That’s not an answer to the question I asked.