From Harford County Government:
(Bel Air, MD) – – Dozens of people turned out on Saturday, September 28 in Bel Air to form a Human Rope to Stop the Dope. The Department of Community Services, Office of Drug Control Policy was proud to partner with Addiction Connections Resource (ARC) members to bring the event to Harford County.
“This great turnout help bring awareness to the deadly consequences that drugs are having on our citizens and families,” said Joseph Ryan with the Office of Drug Control Policy, part of the Department of Community Services.
This event involved 150 participants and was the first of its kind in Maryland. September is Recovery Month. The community came together to raise awareness, celebrate recovery and link together to combat substance abuse and addictions in Harford County.
The event was held in memory of Alyssa Whelan who died at 19 from a heroin problem and the many others who have tragically lost their lives due to drug addiction.
Anyone seeking treatment can contact a health care professional or the Harford County Health Department, Addiction Services at 410-877-2340. For more information on the Office of Drug Control Policy, contact the office at 410-638-3333.
There is no drug as dangerous as ignorance.
My hat is off to ACR for making real practical efforts to address the tragedy of drug addiction.
Something like 95% of crime is drug related and addiction is a proven chronic, progressive and fatal disease. Prison is not treatment. Time behind bars is not rehabilitation, restoration or education. HCDC doesn’t even have a library so that prisoners can try to independently improve themselves. There is a waiting list for participation in recovery programs like AA, NA etc. Addicts coming out of out of our prisons have records that prevent them from getting jobs. This is a recipe for continued addiction, crime, and recidivism.
As a fiscal conservative, I am of the opinion that our tax dollars could be better spent on treatment and job training/ apprenticeship to get better results for all of us. It is inarguable that the status quo is not working. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result…
And PS- Congratulations to Maryland for outlawing synthetic marijuana- now let’s offer treatment as a consequence for users.
I believe dope is spelled Obama.