Escalating Heroin, Prescription Drug Abuse Focus of 'Not My Child' Sessions

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Several sessions of the "Not My Child" program to discuss the use of drugs by children and adults across Anne Arundel County are planned in coming weeks. The focus of this program is to provide the facts of abuse of prescription drugs and the escalation of heroin use in local communities.

The "Not My Child" presentation includes a panel of experts, question and answer from the audience, and treatment providers ready to provide information and referral.

A lethal spike in overdoses in just a 24-hour period in early March across Anne Arundel County had authorities warning the community of the increase in heroin and opioid overdoses, and they reminded users how they can receive treatment for addiction. According to Anne Arundel County Police, a total of 16 overdoses were reported — with three of the cases proving fatal — between 8:42 a.m. on March 7 and 3:43 a.m. on March 8.

As of March 17, the county had 21 people die from overdose so far this year, compared with a total of 21 deaths in all of 2016. Overall, the number of overdoses in Anne Arundel County in 2017 is about double the total for all of last year, and only three months into the year. Records show there have been 218 overdoses so far in 2017, compared with 126 a year ago.

Organizers say substance misuse is in every neighborhood, and all communities. "Not My Child" presentations scheduled include:

• March 28, 7 p.m., Lindale Middle School, 415 Andover Road, Linthicum
• April 13, 6:30 p.m., Hope House, 26 Marbury Drive, Annapolis
• April 18, 27 p.m., Annapolis High School, 2700 Riva Road, Annapolis
• April 20, 7 p.m., St. Margaret’s Church/Day School, 1601 Pleasant Plains Road, Annapolis
• April 27, 7 p.m., Corkran Middle School, 7600 Quarterfield Road, Glen Burnie
• April 30, 5:30 p.m., St. Andrews by the Bay Church, 701 College Parkway, Annapolis

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