Baltimore Town Hall Helps Raise Awareness of the US Opioid Epidemic

Sinclair Broadcast Group, WBFF, and Liberty University have teamed up to address the US opioid epidemic in Baltimore by hosting the sixth installment in a series of town halls that aim to raise awareness of the issue.

The goal of the discussion was to take a closer look at the causes of the epidemic and explore possible solutions. Eric Bolling moderated the event from Baltimore as part of the “Our Voice, Our Future” series of town halls.

He and his wife Adrienne have been outspoken activists in the battle against opioid addiction, following the death of their 19-year old son, who had an accidental Fentanyl overdose in 2017.

Bolling was joined by several special guests including Governor Larry Hogan of Maryland, who declared the State of Emergency in response to the health crisis in both 2017 and 2018. Governor Hogan, together with Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford, have introduced initiatives, legislation, and funding to help fight the widespread effects of the ongoing crisis in Maryland.

In 2017, the Opioid Operational Command Center or OOCC was established as a response to the State of Emergency declared by Governor Hogan. It was created to bring together state and local partners to support prevention, treatment, and enforcement efforts.

The town halls also shed some light on who should bear responsibility for the epidemic. A recent study conducted by the National Safety Council found that Americans are now more likely to die from an opioid overdose than in a motor vehicle accident.

Another guest included Director of the United States Office of National Drug Control Policy James Carroll. He spoke about the office’s dedication to saving lives. He also detailed how his office was using the $34 billion in funding to combat the opioid crisis.

Carroll mentioned that his office has a $1.5 million award for people who are able to develop better technology that can be used at the border and at mail facilities to detect Fentanyl when it comes in.

The Centers for Disease Control reported that 70,237 drug overdose deaths occurred across the United States in 2017. 47,600 of these involved the use of opioids. Baltimore is noted for having the highest death rate in Maryland when it comes to unintentional overdose deaths.

Out of 761 drug and alcohol-related intoxication deaths in Baltimore back in 2017, 692 were opioid-related deaths. Also in 2017, Maryland had 2,009 opioid-related deaths out of 2,282 drug and alcohol-related cases. This is according to the Maryland Department of Health.

Director of Amatus Health Nick Albaugh spoke about how opioids were the most addictive substances among drug users. Steve Schuh, Executive Director of the Maryland Opioid Command Center was another guest. He spoke about how Maryland has been affected by opioids, especially Fentanyl.

Nick Albaugh, Director of Amatus Health, has found opioids to be the most addictive substances among drug users.

Steve Schuh, Executive Director of the Maryland Opioid Command Center, spoke how Maryland has been affected by opioids, especially fentanyl. Fentanyl is particularly dangerous because it is a synthetic opioid that is 30 to 50 times more powerful than heroin. It has caused more Maryland opioid-related deaths compared to prescription opioids and heroin in recent years.

Back in 2015, there was a 178 percent increase in overdose deaths associated with Fentanyl in Baltimore, according to the Baltimore City Health Department.

New Baltimore City Police Chief Michael Harrison also attended the town hall and spoke about the connection between drugs and violence. Click the link to see Detroit's top rehab placement programs.

Right now, Baltimore’s strategy involves Naloxone, a medication that can potentially save lives when used in addiction treatment. Evidence-based treatment on demand will also be increased, as well as fighting the stigma of addiction through education.

If someone in the family is struggling with opioid addiction, it is important to seek help. A combination of medical detox and behavioral therapy can go a long way in the fight against drug abuse. But because every individual is affected by addiction differently, a comprehensive program tailored to their specific needs is necessary. Look for a nearby addiction treatment facility today and find out how drug treatment programs work.