BERLIN – Last week, Gov. Larry Hogan signed into law several pieces of legislation that take aim at the state’s growing opioid and heroin epidemic.
The news came more than two months after the governor declared a state of emergency on the opioid and heroin crisis. In addition to designating $50 million over the next five years to tackle the epidemic, Hogan also picked Maryland’s emergency director and Ocean City native Clay Stamp to lead coordinated efforts on this front as executive director of Maryland’s Opioid Operational Command Center.
Among the 200-plus bills Hogan signed into law last Thursday were several pieces of legislation that combat addiction through education, prevention, treatment, enforcement and the like.
Delegate Mary Beth Carozza (R-38C) said the governor took the lead on several pieces of legislation that address the crisis including the Prescriber Limits Act of 2017, which requires health care providers to prescribe the lowest effective dose of an opioid.
“Given that 7.3 million CDS prescriptions were dispensed in 2016 in Maryland, which is more than the approximate 5.7 million persons residing in Maryland, the need for this legislation is clear,” she said.
Another bill signed into law last week was the Heroin and Opioid Prevention Effort and Treatment Act of 2017 (HOPE Act), which establishes a 24-hour hotline and treatment center for those with mental health and substance abuse needs, improves access to naloxone, funds local behavior health services and more.
Sen. Jim Mathias (D-38), a co-sponsor of the HOPE Act, said not only does it bring more money and resources into play, but also integrates behavioral health and addiction services.
“That’s the challenge for health departments across the state, that’s the challenge that advocacy groups like the Worcester County Warriors have,” he said, “is being able to find the money.”
Worcester County Warriors Against Opiate Addiction co-founder Heidi McNeeley praised Hogan for signing legislation that targets the heroin and opioid epidemic. She said these bills will have a positive impact on Worcester County citizens affected by addiction.
“We are excited and optimistic about the legislation that’s been passed and grateful that the governor recognizes the enormity of this epidemic,” she said. “We look forward to the continuing efforts of his cabinet toward healing our community.”
Hogan also signed into law the Distribution of Opioids Resulting in Death Act, which allows prosecutors to seek an additional 10 years for drug dealers who knowingly sell fentanyl and its analogs, and the Heroin and Opioid Education and Community Action Act of 2017 (Start Talking Maryland Act), which will increase education and prevention efforts in schools.
Carozza and Mathias both said they supported such initiatives that combat addiction in an effort to save the lives of those in their home community and far beyond.
“When there is a crisis of this magnitude affecting our home community and entire state, each one of us has an obligation to do our part in saving lives and protecting our families,” Carozza said. “With all of our state and local partners working together to combine our efforts and resources, and with a continued commitment to attack the heroin-opioid epidemic on all fronts, I believe we will turn this crisis around but we need to be in this fight for the long haul.”
Both Carozza and Mathias said that work to combat the opioid and heroin epidemic should not stop.
“We have to continue to do more and work harder,” Mathias said, “because we are still losing lives.”
