Results Statement: People across the lifespan are free of addiction and abuse of illegal substances and their effects.

Abuse of substances, both legal and illegal substances, is recognized as a modern day plague worldwide. Maryland State Law requires a multi-agency, community-based “Behavioral Health and Addictions Committee” in all jurisdictions to monitor trends and coordinate actions in this regard. Through an M.O.U. their Substance Abuse subcommittee has agreed to serve simultaneously as The Partnership’s leadership team for this Core Health Improvement Area. The benefits of this arrangement are efficiency and the assurance of connectivity and consistency with state and national benchmarks… a win-win for all. They represent a strong cross-section of substance abuse treatment and prevention experts, educators, law-enforcement professionals and others who are knowledgeable about the ever-changing, ever-challenging issues.

Partnership Staff Contact:
Lexi Schafer
410-871-7648
LSchafer@carrollhospitalcenter.org

Click on the organizational chart items to view the details of each.

Substance Abuse Leadership Team

The Substance Abuse Subcommittee of the Carroll County Behavioral Health and Addictions Council (BHAAC) serves as The Partnership’s Leadership Team for the area of Substance Abuse. This Subcommittee was created to prevent and reduce the impact of behavioral health and addiction disorders through increased community awareness, public education, enhanced access to quality treatment and involvement in promoting a healthy lifestyle for the citizens of Carroll County.

The Leadership Team is comprised of local professionals and agencies with an interest in or programs for substance abusers and/or their families. The Leadership Team typically meets monthly to discuss initiatives and projects focused on those affected by substance abuse. Please contact Partnership staff for more information.

Substance Abuse Resource Directory

In January 2008, The Partnership assembled an action team of eight local professionals in the substance abuse prevention field met to compile the 3rd edition of the Carroll County Substance Abuse Resource Directory. This 2008 edition was published and distributed in June 2008.

Involved in this project were:

Cathy Baker - Carroll County Health Department
George Butler - Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office; and Junction, Inc.
Susan Doyle - Carroll County Health Department
Craig Geaves - Rape Crisis Intervention Service of Carroll County, Inc.
Amy Miller - Carroll County Public Library
Lexi Schafer - The Partnership for a Healthier Carroll County, Inc.
Larry Welsh - Carroll Hospital Center
Mark Yount - Junction, Inc.

The 112-page Directory includes local licensed and certified treatment programs, other treatment programs, support programs, prevention programs, tobacco-specific programs, and law enforcement resources are also included in the directory.

Copies of the 2008 Edition of the Carroll County Substance Abuse Resource Directory can be downloaded for free here.

Strategic Planning Team

Members of the Substance Abuse Leadership Team met over the course of three weeks in June 2009 to create goals for the upcoming fiscal years 2010 and 2011. These goals were agreed upon by the entire Leadership Team, and are as follow.

Goal I: Develop and expand programs and services to meet the unmet and emergent needs of the community.

• Objective A: Evaluate the current approach to post incarceration.
• Objective B: Enhance community efforts towards Recovery Oriented Systems of Care
• Objective C: Increase the knowledge of the community and stakeholders on pregnant and post-partum substance abuse and the care of both mother and child before and after birth.
• Objective D: Identify barriers to employment for persons in Substance Abuse Treatment.
• Objective E: Evaluate jurisdictional data related to retention of persons in Substance Abuse Treatment Programs.

Goal II: Educate and assist families in Carroll County to live Healthy and Drug Free lives.

• Objective A: Evaluate current prevention strategies and community needs within the jurisdiction.
• Objective B: Evaluate jurisdictional data on adolescent drug use trends.

Substance-Affected Newborns Team

In 2008, the Carroll County Fetal Infant Mortality Review Board convened a community forum addressing substance abuse in pregnancy. Representatives from 17 agencies and programs, including local obstetricians and the Carroll County Health Department Bureau of Addictions, were present. The Director of Services for Women and Children at Carroll Hospital Center remained concerned, and contacted The Partnership. With guidance from the Maryland Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration, the Substance Abuse Leadership Team sought to host a local educational conference.

In June 2009 health care and human services professionals gathered for a conference entitled “Community Response to Drug Use in Pregnancy and the Drug-Exposed Child.” Conference goals were to: 1) understand medical treatment for maintaining drug-addicted pregnant mothers, 2) discuss methadone treatment vs. business, and 3) improve collaboration and communication between the doctors and drug abuse treatment providers. Dr. Ira Chasnoff of the University of Illinois, College of Medicine, was the expert presenter. Conference funding was provided through the collaborative efforts of multiple partners, including the Local Management Board and Carroll County Bureau of Addictions.

Key Carroll County stakeholders continue to work on a community plan to improve care for drug-addicted pregnant women and their babies. A group of healthcare professionals attended a Strategic Planning conference at the Children’s Triangle Research Institute in Chicago in November 2009.  Goals of this community plan are to 1) provide timely interventions to prevent and treat alcohol and other drug use during pregnancy and 2) work toward early identification and early intervention for drug-exposed children.

Employment Action Team

This team was formed to look at increasing the number of clients discharged from substance abuse programs who are able to find solid employment. Area employment agencies and job training agencies will partner with the action team to work toward this goal. A workshop for addictions professionals is being planned for March 2010. This workshop will present employment and job training resources and outline eligibility for those resources. After the workshop, this information will be shared with patients who are seeking jobs. The goal of this project is to increase by 10% the number of patients reporting employment at the time of their discharge from treatment.

Annual Recovery Celebration

An annual salute in recognition of people recovering from the diseases of substance abuse is held for about 150 – 175 people. This event is usually held in September which is National Recovery Month. Families and friends join in celebrating the progress of those in recovery. No reservations are required.

Sponsored by the Carroll County Health Department, Carroll Hospital Center, the Drug Treatment Court, the Heroin Action Coalition, On Our Own of Carroll County, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, the recovery event features music, fellowship, food, games, a recovery meeting, kid’s activities, and fun for all in attendance.

Client Retention Team

This team’s goal is for 50% or more of substance abuse treatment providers receive education about mechanisms assuring that at least 65% of clients remain in treatment for a minimum of 90 days.

The team will work to identify possible presenters on the topic of retention in treatment. Plans for a one-day workshop are in progress. Assistance and follow-up will be provided to ensure that participating providers institute at least one process change to increase retention in their programs.

Links

American Council for Drug Education
Carroll County Substance Abuse Prevention Committee
Center for Substance Abuse Research (CEASAR)
CESAR Fax - weekly overview of substance abuse trends and issues
Get Connected Family Resource Center
Healthy People 2010 - Substance Abuse
Heroin Action Coalition
Join Together Online
Learn the Link - HIV/AIDS and teen drug abuse
Maryland Adolescent Survey Report
Maryland Community Services Locator
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (MD)
NotMyKid
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Substance Abuse Resource Directory - 2008 Edition
Youth Prescription Drug Abuse Rising - 02/2009

Page updated: 12/09