In 2017, Governor Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency in MD as it relates to opioids. As part of this declaration, additional funding for 5 years was provided to improve enforcement, prevention and treatment services. The funding allocated was $50 million dollars, with 80% of it for local jurisdictions.
[side note: the 2018 budget included $200k to pilot a school based program for early identification. Wonder what happen to this program?]
In response to Gov Larry Hogan, Montgomery County (along with every other Md county) established an Opioid Intervention Team (OIT). In Montgomery County, the OIT is chaired by the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services. It includes members from Fire/Rescue, Police Dept, MCPS, State Attorney, etc.
Here is where things get interesting. If you look back at the twitter timelines for MoCo DHHS, they admitted to the stronghold opioid addiction was having in our community as early as 2017.
They also quickly tied the devastating impact fentanyl has had, initiating Narcan training events in 2018.
They also established websites full of phone numbers to call to access a variety of different services.
What they have not done is publish any reports on the progress that has been made across Montgomery County in reducing opioid abuse since 2017. And though the OIT published both a 2019 and 2020 “Response Plan”, there has not been one published since. The public simply does not know the impact of the resources being spent. And from the local news, it seems that opioid use across MoCo has only accelerated, and the impact of fentanyl only deepened.
Part of this could be what has been very strange messaging from MoCo DHHS. While they have handed out countless free doses of Narcan, they have complimented this with messaging of “safe use” of opioids.
Many in the progressive circle of MoCo are lobbying for safe use centers, and even the provision of drug paraphernalia so that drug use can not only continue, but be aided by the county. Is our public health agency too timid to discourage drug use, and only content in providing methods that allow its use to be done with less immediate risk? And if so, what impact is this having on our children and our community? What impact is this having on reducing the drug abuse and use?
Mind you, this is the same agency that if you were unvaccinated, or unmasked, they considered (and used supporting messaging) you to be a vector of disease and a risk to the community.
