'Facing Addiction' In Harford County Set For Thursday

BEL AIR, MD - Harford County is sponsoring a forum about heroin on Thursday in Bel Air. Experts from the local to federal level will weigh in on heroin and opioid addiction.

In the past week, there have been two fatal overdoses believed to be related to heroin in Harford County, according to the sheriff's office, which reported the county had surpassed last year's death toll as of August.

"Facing Addiction," a forum about heroin and opioid addiction, will take place at Bel Air High School on Thursday, Sept. 14. It will include a question-and-answer session as well as tours of "H.O.P.E. House," a trailer designed to help educate parents about signs of drug use, through the Harford County Sheriff's Office.

Panelists at the forum include the following:

• Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy
• Maryland Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford
• Maryland Emergency Management Agency Executive Director Clay Stamp
• Harford County Executive Barry Glassman
• Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler
• Harford County Public Schools Superintendent Barbara Canavan
• Harford County Office of Drug Control Police Manager Joe Ryan

Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency in Maryland in March due to the rise in overdose deaths from heroin, particularly because of fentanyl.

In alignment with the state trend, Harford County has lost an increasing number of people to heroin-related overdoses this year.

Last year in Harford County, there were 290 heroin-related overdoses, of which 56 were deadly, according to the sheriff's office.

As of Sept. 11 in Harford County, authorities said there had been 323 overdoses, of which 61 were deadly.

That was an increase of 33 overdoses, two of which were deadly, over the course of one week.

• To Combat Heroin, Harford Sheriff Unveils H.O.P.E. House
• Heroin Overdoses In Harford Surpass 2016 Year-End Total: Sheriff
• Gov. Larry Hogan Declares State Of Emergency Due To Heroin

A human chain will form in the parking lot outside the forum in Bel Air in a demonstration called "Human Rope to Stop the Dope."

Sponsored by the Harford County Health Department, "Facing Addiction" will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14, at Bel Air High School, 100 Heighe Street, Bel Air.

_{Flier courtesy of Harford County Government.}

There are resources for those seeking help for addiction. Marylanders who struggle with substance use disorders can find location-based treatment resource online or by calling the 24-hour Maryland Crisis Hotline at 1-800-422-0009.

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Photo Credit: Harford County Sheriff's Office.