Student Substance Abuse Crisis To Be Addressed At Tuesday Event Hosted By HCPSS

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — On Tuesday at 7 p.m., the Howard County Public School System will host a community event called Student Drug Use: A Crisis We Can’t Ignore to "engage students, parents/guardians, staff and community members regarding the substance abuse crisis that is directly impacting our schools and community."

No registration is required to attend and the event will take place at Howard High School, 8700 Old Annapolis Road, Ellicott City.

Superintendent Dr. Michael J. Martirano will keynote the event, sharing local and national data about student substance use and behavioral health needs and how HCPSS is responding to those needs. Following Martirano’s remarks, attendees will have the opportunity to choose one of several breakout sessions led by HCPSS staff and community health partners.

Breakout sessions include:

• Designer Drugs – Dr. Michael Baumann, director of the Designer Drug Research Unit, and Kerrie Wagaman, HCPSS Director of Health Services
• Opioids, Fentanyl and Other Drugs: Can You Tell the Difference? – Opioid Response and Prevention Program, Howard County Health Department
• How to Treat the Effects of Cannabis/Marijuana Use – Joan Webb Scornaienchi, executive director of HC DrugFree, and Mark Donavan, CEO, chief clinical officer, licensed therapist, Congruent Counseling Services
• Skills-Based Health Education – Eric Bishop, HCPSS PE and health education coordinator, and Tempe Beall, HCPSS health education instructional facilitator
• Spring Cleaning: From Fiction to Fact for Today’s Youth! – Barbara Allen, executive director of James’ Place Inc.; Chair of Howard County Opioid Collaborative Community Council
• Understanding Vaping and How to Talk to Teens – Dillon McManus, recovery supports and harm reduction supervisor, HCHD, and Natalie Hall, Community Health Educator/CAREAPP Engagement Coordinator, HCHD
• Regulating Maryland Medical Cannabis and Upcoming Adult-Use Legalization – Rebecca Jackson, senior research and education specialist, Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission
• How Peer Support and Harm Reduction Can Help Those with Mental Health and Substance Use Needs – Kris Locus, transitional aged youth voordinator, On Our Own of Maryland, and Rachel Battaglia, intern, Voices of Hope