Howard House To Offer Substance Abuse Treatment In HoCo

COLUMBIA, MD — County Executive Calvin Ball cut the ribbon Thursday on a new facility for those suffering from substance use disorders. Howard House will provide residential treatment as well as outpatient programs, according to Howard County government officials.

The 16-bed treatment facility will provide help for people who have substance use disorders, including opioid addiction.

Howard County government funded the remodeled new Howard House on Route 108, a location that is owned by the Department of Recreation and Parks.

It will provide a place where those suffering from addiction are "treated with dignity and value," County Executive Calvin Ball said at a press conference on Thursday.

Since 2016, more than 130 have died of opioid overdoses in Howard County, according to Ball.

In 2018 alone, there were 188 nonfatal overdoses and 38 fatal opioid overdoses in Howard County, according to Ball, who said those numbers did not account for Howard County residents who died of overdoses while they were visiting other jurisdictions.

"To me, that is unacceptable," Ball said. "We're treating this like the public crisis that it is."

Howard House will provide "women and men of all income levels the help to move them toward full recovery," Ball said, "right here in Howard County."

Once people are referred to Howard House, they will be put in a structured program that includes peer support, case management, therapeutic behavioral health sessions and other supportive resources.

"I am committed to prevention, treatment and recovery," Ball said.

The facility was described by speakers at the ribbon cutting as a "place of hope" and a home for those seeking help and accountability.

Howard House is located at 8976 Maryland Route 108 in Columbia.

RELATED: $1 Million Grant To Support 24-Hour Addiction Services In HoCo

Watch the ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, May 2: