Harford County Unites To Celebrate Recovery From Addiction

BEL AIR, MD — Harford County government will raise awareness about substance abuse and recognize residents who have overcome addiction in a month-long recovery celebration that launches Sept. 1 with a YouTube music video featuring national celebrities, based on recording artist Andy Grammer’s hit song, “Don’t Give Up on Me.”

Other efforts include purple lights symbolizing recovery on major buildings, purple glow sticks at school sporting events, purple painted “Recovery Rocks!,” a host of empowering events, and a social media storm.

“The opioid epidemic has brought terrible suffering to our community and our nation, but there are encouraging stories of recovery too,” County Executive Barry Glassman said in a news release. “This month we celebrate thousands of individuals who have overcome addiction in Harford County, and those who continue to fight on the front lines. There are families and individuals living in recovery that have remarkable jobs, beautiful children, have achieved tremendous success, and lead outstanding lives full of joy and meaning. Sharing these stories reduces stigma and helps to break down barriers. Most importantly, they give hope.”

SEE ALSO:

• Opioid Crisis: 71M Pain Pills Flooded Harford County In 7 Years
• Nearly $170K In Grants Help Target Opioid Abuse In Harford County

Shining a Light on Recovery

Buildings throughout Harford County will be illuminated in purple during September, including: the county buildings at 220 S. Main Street in Bel Air and 2220 Ady Road in Forest Hill; volunteer fire companies in Level, Bel Air and Norrisville, and the Susquehanna Hose Company in Havre de Grace; the Bel Air Armory; Bel Air Town Hall; Bel Air Library Branch; Saxon’s Jeweler buildings in Bel Air and Aberdeen, and the Harford Mutual Insurance Company.

In addition, lights on Main Street in Havre de Grace will shine purple in September, as will lighting at both the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health campuses in Bel Air and Havre de Grace.

Billboards on MD Route 1 for The Klein Family Harford Crisis Center will be lit in purple. The Harford County Health Department is providing strings of purple lights to businesses on Main Street in Bel Air. Purple glow sticks will be given out at select Harford County Public Schools sports events.

Recovery Rocks!

Residents should look for purple Recovery Rocks. Hundreds of rocks, donated by Jerry Preston Hauling of Jarrettsville, were hand-painted with inspirational messages by people in recovery or attending recovery events, and will be placed along area trails and sidewalks.

Everyone is encouraged to post pictures of the rocks they find on social media with the hashtag #Harford4Recovery.

Music Video

A grassroots music video featuring hundreds of residents, agencies, and organizations is also in
production. The video, which includes groups singing along to Andy Grammer’s hit single, “Don’t
Give Up on Me,” will premiere on Harford County's YouTube channel on Sunday, Sept. 1.

The compilation was developed by the Harford County Office of Drug Control Policy to raise awareness, celebrate substance-free living; and to demonstrate to other communities how they can recognize recovery month with meaningful campaigns.

Harford County mediation coordinator Natasha Jackson, who also coordinates the Harford County Recovery Choir, performs the song. The video includes cameo appearances by Cal Ripken Jr., former NFL wide receiver Qadry Ismail, and “Tonight Show” comedian Dion Flynn.

Social Media Support Storm

Harford County government, Harford County Health Department, Harford County Public Schools,
Harford County Sheriff’s Office, Harford County CORE Services Agency, Healthy Harford/Healthy
Cecil, Harford Community College, Harford County Public Library, the town of Bel Air and University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health have also partnered on a social media campaign that will run the month of September. Daily Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram posts will share stories of recovery, treatment resources and recovery events.

Empowering Events

Events focused on recovery, treatment and prevention are also planned in the next 30 days,
including:

• Sept. 6: Rage Against Addiction crab feast at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church (6 - 9 p.m.)
• Sept. 12: Homecoming Project gala at Water’s Edge Events Center (6 – 10 p.m.)
• Sept. 13: Embracing Recovery and Wellness Summit Mountain Christian Church Abingdon Campus (8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.)
• Sept. 14: Char Hope Harbor of Strength Memorial Race at Tydings Park (8 - 11 a.m.)
• Sept. 19: Discussion with Dr. Leonard Sax, author of “Boys Adrift,” “Girls on the Edge” and “Why Gender Matters,” at Bel Air High School (6:30 – 8 p.m.)
• Sept. 20: Harford County Kinship Conference - Relative’s Matter at the EpiCenter in Edgewood (8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.)
• Sept. 20: Meet Jarrett J. Krosoczka, children’s author/illustrator of “Hey Kiddo” at the Havre de Grace Library (3 – 4 p.m.)
• Sept. 24 & 26: Discussion with Mark Mero, professional wrestler and motivational speaker at Edgewood HS on Sept. 24 and Patterson Mill HS on Sept. 26 ( 7 – 8:30 p.m.)
• Sept. 26: The Harford County Second Chance Job and Resource Fair at the EpiCenter in Edgewood (9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)

On Wednesday, Sept. 25, County Executive Barry Glassman asks everyone to wear purple for Recovery Awareness Day in Harford County to honor family members, friends and neighbors who have overcome addiction.

Tom Lantieri — a husband, father, grandfather, and an advocate for recovery who recently celebrated 25 years of sobriety — believes that Harford County’s Recovery Month efforts are especially meaningful to people who have recently begun recovery.

“Whether it is a building illuminated in purple light, a recovery rock, or an inspiring story onInstagram, those little touches can give individuals hope and strength to continue on especially when they are just starting on their path to recovery,” Lantieri said in a press release. “Everyone’s story and circumstances are different. You don’t know which effort is going to make an impact. I hope they all work. But if one rock or one string of lights helps just one person persevere…. It’s worth it. Further, all of these initiatives send an important message to families – you are not alone.”

For event details and other Recovery Month activities, or to join in any of the above,
visit www.harfordcountymd.gov/ODCP or contact the Harford County Office of Drug Control
Policy at 410-638-3333.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, call for help at 800-639-8783.

Where To Get Help For Addiction

Residents of Harford County can contact a 24/7 crisis hotline at 800-NEXT-STEP (800-639-8783) that is operated by behavioral health professionals who can help direct callers to behavioral health, mental health and addiction treatment resources. The Klein Family Crisis Center offers walk-in mental health and substance use urgent care from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily at its location at 802 Baltimore Pike in Bel Air.

Those seeking treatment for addiction may also contact Addiction Connections Resource at 443-417-7810. The Jarrettsville-based nonprofit helps people navigate options for assistance, from therapists to halfway houses to treatment centers.

People seeking help can also call the Maryland Crisis Hotline, which provides 24/7 support, at 1-800-422-0009. Marylanders grappling with a substance use disorder can find help as well at BeforeItsTooLateMD.org.

In addition, there is a treatment locator on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website.

Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are available locally as well as Nar-Anon and Al-Anon for family members.