Overdoses Climb In Anne Arundel, Officials Encourage Seeking Help

ANNE ARUNDELC OUNTY, MD — Two people overdose in Anne Arundel County each day. An overdose kills one of those residents every three days.

While grim, these statistics offer officials an amplified platform to further the fight against addiction. Anne Arundel County leaders did just that on Monday in observation of International Overdose Awareness Day.

"COVID-19 gets headlines these days, but #AnneArundel County continues our work to prevent and treat addiction," County Executive Steuart Pittman tweeted.

A person overdoses when they consume too much of a substance that then harms their body's function. Overdoses usually involve opioids, a type of drug that is chemically similar to opium.

Doctors prescribe these drugs as pain killers, but their addictive qualities often lead users to seek out more dangerous opioids, like heroin. Ingesting too much of these drugs could lead to a fatal overdose.

Overdoses have already claimed the lives of 93 Anne Arundel County residents in 2020. That's up 3.3 percent from this time last year. The county has seen a total of 540 overdoses this year, which is 32 more than this point in 2019.

These statistics don't count Annapolis, which tracts its own data. Much like the county, the city's overdose figures are also worsening.

Annapolis has had 118 overdoses in 2020, which is 12 ahead of last year's pace. Overdoses have already killed 10 Annapolitans, and seven more overdose deaths are suspected, though they are not yet confirmed. Altogether, Annapolis is on pace to shatter its 2019 record of 13 fatal overdoses.

The deadliest drug in Anne Arundel County currently is fentanyl. The Centers for Disease and Control Prevention say the opioid is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, meaning even a small dose could be deadly.

Fentanyl is connected to 65 percent of all of Anne Arundel County's fatal overdoses. In comparison, heroin was involved in 8 percent of the county's deadly overdoses. The fentanyl death toll could be even greater, however, as a third of the county's deaths still await autopsy results.

The drug is a relatively new problem. Fentanyl was involved in 58 Maryland deaths in 2013. That number has since grown by more than 3,000 percent. In 2018, 1,888 Marylanders died with fentanyl in their system, according to the Maryland Department of Health's most recent annual overdose report.

Anne Arundel County officials are aware of the danger posed by fentanyl and other opioids. They hope to shed light on the severity of the issue.

"All we ask of you is to practice the empathy and compassion for those who suffer from this condition that you would want if it was you," Pittman tweeted. "Recovery is possible, with your support."

Pittman said that residents battling addiction can still get help, even during the coronavirus pandemic. County residents can call the Substance Abuse Treatment Referral Line at (410) 222-0117 to find out what options they have. That line is staffed every weekday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Those looking to beat addiction can also visit one of the county's recovery clinics. Anybody can seek treatment from these resources, regardless of their income, as the county charges on a sliding scale based on a person's ability to pay.

The Anne Arundel County Police Department also chimed in, aiming to normalize conversations about substance abuse.

"Talk about overdose could save a life," police tweeted. "Overdose can affect anyone. No more stigma. No more shame."

The Annapolis Fire Department reminded the public of the county's Safe Stations initiative. Any county resident can head to their nearest fire or police station to dispose of their illegal substances and request addiction assistance.

Firefighters and police officers will then help the patients determine the best treatment option for them. Residents who seek treatment this way will not face any legal repercussions. More than 1,600 people made use of the Safe Stations between April 2017 and December 2018, the most recent data show.

"Addiction knows no boundaries," the fire department tweeted. "Never feel ashamed or scared to get help."

The Annapolis Fire Department completed its support by explaining their available resources in a YouTube video.

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