Series Coverage Welcomed
Editor:
The Worcester County Health Department would like to thank The Dispatch for putting opiate abuse and misuse in our area under the spotlight with the article “Curing Our Coast.” As an ongoing series, we hope that “Curing Our Coast” will continue to spread awareness about the dangers of opiate abuse, an issue that affects Worcester residents of many different ages and walks of life.
For a long time, Marylanders viewed addiction to opiates like prescription painkillers and heroin as a city problem. The unfortunate truth, however, is that opiate abuse is happening across the state from Baltimore streets to right here on the shore. Every year, opiates affect dozens of families in Worcester County and fatal overdoses tragically cut short too many lives.
Most opiate users don’t begin with heroin and instead start by using other substances including painkillers, which may only require a trip to the family medicine cabinet. It is vital for parents and guardians to realize that even if their doctor prescribed it, an opiate can be dangerous and addictive if misused. Medicine cabinets need to be monitored and expired prescriptions disposed of safely. There are three medicine drop-boxes across Worcester at both the northern and southern ends of the county: one at Ocean City Police Department 6501 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, one at Ocean Pines Police Department 239 Ocean Parkway, Ocean Pines, and the final located at Snow Hill Government Center 1 West Market Street, Snow Hill. All of the drop boxes are accessible 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a medication that can save a life in the event of an opiate overdose. The Health Department offers Naloxone trainings for friends, family members and anyone that might encounter an opiate user.
For more information on Naloxone trainings or to access addiction treatment, call 410-213-0202. For more information on opioid awareness, visit www.decisionsmatter.org
Thank you for your continued coverage on this important issue. The first step to fighting opiate misuse and abuse locally is awareness.
Deborah Goeller, R.N., MSN
Snow Hill
(The writer is the Health Officer for the Worcester County Health Department.)
Treatment Must Happen
Editor:
How often have we heard the expression, “talk is cheap”? This is exactly how I feel about the sudden attention being paid to heroin addiction. Did everyone just wake up and discover the heroin epidemic?
Those of us who have lost loved one suffering from this heinous disease (almost many of you deny it is a disease) know how lives are destroyed, finances ruined, families torn apart and the devastating social stigma attached to it. Our lives become a living hell. We seek help from medical people, social workers, government agencies and usually are referred to rehabs followed by halfway or sober living houses. Excuse me, but what a crock.
Insurance companies often do not authorize enough treatment for detox to be completed nor do they fulfill the dual-diagnosis treatment promised in their advertisement. I could regale you with tales of dysfunctional sober living houses, that in several cases took money for unauthorized reasons and refused to return it. Bad apples spoil the barrel in this case. Maybe there are some good ones but in six years we did not find one.
How much of our recent “talk” includes treatment for those still sick? We talk about education, but where is the talk of real treatment for the millions afflicted? Are they to be swept to the side to make room for a new generation of “educated non-users?” We must include treatment in our talk. Why is Suboxone not readily available at a reasonable cost in communities? Why is Wicomico County the only methadone treatment center on the Eastern Shore? Why is it almost impossible to get treatment there without being in the throes of addiction? Why do they use outdated equipment that takes weeks to test urine?
I do not blame the staff as I am sure they are bound by many outdated rules and regulations. Why must one travel an hour and a half a day to get treatment from a private treatment facility and still hold down the job they are expected to have while in recovery? Our talk must include additional treatment centers. If all we did was talk about the polio epidemic thousands would still be in iron lungs. But, no, that was considered a “real” disease, so Dr. Salk received funding for his research. And diabetic friends of mine have never been sent to a 12-step program to conquer their sickness.
We must get real and talk about treatment. We must make treatment happen. Let’s stop talking and take action — please.
Andrea Schlottman
Berlin
Event Support Appreciated
Editor:
The Downtown Association would like to thank all those who came out on Saturday, May 14 and made our 12th Annual Crab Soup Cook Off such a huge success. Your support is greatly appreciated.
A special thank you to our participating restaurants — Buddy’s Crabs & Ribs, Centerplate/OC Convention Center, Lazy River Saloon/Frontier Town, M.R. Ducks, Ocean Pines Yacht Club, Phillips Seafood, Pickles Pub, Seacrets and Shrimp Boat/OC Fish Company.
Thank you also to our generous sponsors and donors — Shenanigan’s
Irish Pub, The Dough Roller, OCDC, Ocean View American Grill, Hammerheads, Backshore Brewing Company, Ocean City Today and The Dispatch.
Thanks to the U.S. Coast Guard for their help in setting up for the event and to all our other volunteers, especially the student volunteers from Stephen Decatur. The band One Night Stand was awesome.
Congratulations to our winners. Best
Red soup: First place, Centerplate/OC
Convention Center; second, Shrimp Boat/OC Fish Company; and third, Seacrets.
Best white soup: First place, Buddy’s Crabs & Ribs; second, Seacrets; and third, Shrimp Boat/OC Fish Company.
Best Decorated: Buddy’s Crabs & Ribs.
We are looking forward to the13th Annual Cook Off next May and with your continued support, more fun events downtown.
Mary Ann Manganello
(The writer is the administrator of the Ocean City Downtown Association.)
New Event A Huge Success
Editor:
On behalf of the members of the Berlin Fire Company, I would like to thank everyone who attended our first Pig Pickin and Clam Bake. The event was a huge success and we plan to make it an annual event.
I want to especially thank our area businesses who gave us their support as sponsors. Without them, this event would have not been as successful. Thank you to Taylor Bank, Bergey and Company PA, Burley Oak, The Dispatch, Bank of Ocean City, Atlantic- Smith Cropper and Deeley Insurance, Berlin Automotive Group, Bunting Realty, The Globe, The Atlantic Hotel, Berlin Farm Supply, Seacrets and Wagner Foods. Thanks to Gary and Grant Williams of Paul Williams, Inc. for their donation of a 55-inch flat screen TV for one of our raffles.
A special thanks goes out to Nicky Chavis of Burley Oak for all of her help and guidance in the planning and organization of our event as well as putting together the Chinese Auction. She steered us in the right direction and kept us on course as the Pig Pickin came together.
Thanks to Chuck Quillen of Snow Hill who cooked the outstanding pork and the Showell and Bishopville Fire Companies, who manned the steamers with us for the clams. Thanks to Bobby Malaby and Tranzfusion for not being booked for May 14. They were fantastic and kept the party rocking and everybody dancing.
This was our first big fund raising event in a while and it was so great to have everybody back in the firehouse enjoying a night of great food, music and fun. All proceeds from the evening are being put towards the cost of our new ladder truck which will be delivered to us in the very near future. The price tag on this new apparatus is $800,000 and will replace our 1977 Mack Telesquirt. Again, thank you to everyone who sponsored the night and to everyone who came out and enjoyed the event. We look forward to the 2nd Annual BFC Pig Pickin and Clam Bake next spring. We hope to see you there.
John Holloway
Berlin
(The writer chaired the event for the Berlin Fire Company.)