Face Of Addiction Exhibit To Appear At 8 Harford High Schools

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — A display that drives home the fatal nature of addiction is making the rounds in Harford County schools.

Called the "Face of Addiction," the exhibit is traveling to eight high schools in Harford County before the end of the school year. It includes The Conversation Tree, a tree adorned with hearts showing pictures of 29 Harford County residents who died from addiction.

Officials said there were 290 heroin overdoses, including 56 fatal, in Harford County in 2016. That was an increase from the previous year; there were 200 overdoses, including 27 fatal, in 2015.

Harford County launched a public awareness campaign in 2016, among other initiatives to combat the heroin epidemic, winning national recognition for innovation. Each week, the Harford County Sheriff's Office updates signs outside its offices to reflect the number of fatal and nonfatal overdoses in Harford County.

The "Face of Addiction" exhibit was created last year by the Students Against Destruction Decisions (SADD) group at Harford Technical High School, where it kicked off its 2017 tour. Last week, it moved to Havre de Grace High School.

Here is the schedule for the display:

• Harford Technical High School – Feb. 6–17
• Havre de Grace High School – Feb. 20–March 3
• Fallston High School – March 6–17
• North Harford High School – March 20–31
• Bel Air High School – April 4–21
• Patterson Mill High School – April 24–May 5
• Edgewood High School – May 8–19
• C. Milton Wright High School – May 22–June 2

At each school, students will create a "Chain of Hope" with their school colors. At the end of the exhibit's run, the chain will be linked in a show of unity against addiction.

Harford County Public Schools Superintendent Barbara P. Canavan called the Face of Addiction "an outstanding initiative."

Canavan said that in working to educate students about drugs, the school system partners with the Harford County Sheriff's Office, Harford County Health Department, PTAs and the Office of Drug Control Policy.

But, she noted: "...this project is led by the students—it is their passion about educating their peers that has made this possible."

• Bel Air Home To Most Overdoses In Harford County
• Harford Sheriff Begins Tallying Overdoses
• First Heroin-Related Fatality Of 2017 Reported Minutes Into New Year: Sheriff
• Heroin Drives Up Petty Theft In Harford County

Pictured, The Conversation Tree is sponsored by the Albert P. Close Foundation, which raises funds to support troubled youth in Harford County. Photos by Elizabeth Janney.