Opioid Recovery Program Expands In Anne Arundel County

ANNAPOLIS, MD — County Exectuive Steve Schuh announced Tuesday that Anne Arundel County will invest $200,000 to expand the "Safe Stations" anti-opioid initiative across the county.

The Safe Stations Program was launched on April 20 of this year. The program designated all Anne Arundel County fire stations and police stations as safe spaces for people looking for help with recovery from heroin/opioid addiction.

At any time of the day or night, residents who want help with addiction can go to any fire or police station and speak to the personnel on duty. The investment will also help add personnel to Anne Arundel County's Response Teams to ensure their quicker deployment.

“Every day our Safe Stations program is working to help our citizens break the cycle of addiction,” Schuh said in a statement. “We thank Governor Hogan for recognizing the effectiveness of this program and for making this expansion possible. The State of Maryland has been a fantastic part as we work to turn the tide against this horrific national epidemic.”

The program's expansion was made possible by a $287,000 grant from the Hogan-Rutherford Administration, which recently pledged $22 million across Maryland to help fight the heroin opioid epidemic. The remaining funds will be used to expand the county's education and outreach efforts.

"By partnering with our local communities, we are increasing prevention through education and protection through enforcement, and ensuring that treatment services are available to those who need them, when they need them," said Clay Stamp, executive director of the Opioid Operational Command Center.

To date, the Safe Stations program has helped connect 94 citizens to treatment in the county, according to the press release.

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