Agencies collaborate to host Friendsville Town Meeting on Opioid Use

The public is invited to attend a Garrett County Opioid Town Hall Meeting on September 25 at the Friendsville Fire Department, beginning at 6 p.m.

“We continue to bring the community together for open conversations about how drugs are affecting this county and what we as individuals, and as a group, can do to help this issue,” said Sadie Liller, Prevention Coordinator, Garrett County Health Department. “This is the third in a series of town meetings, and we hope the series will continue, with other communities standing up to take initiative and do events in their communities.”

The meetings are a collaboration between Garrett County Health Department, Community Action, and other concerned agencies and citizens. The group has called their initiative “Stand Together – Garrett County Against Drug Abuse.”

Previous Town Hall Meetings were held in Oakland and Grantsville, with a total of nearly 200 people attending the events.

Presenters at the events, including public health, physicians, community members, and those in recovery, talk about their individual experiences, community perceptions, and how to help those in need.

Garrett County Health Officer Bob Stephens said there are three “takeaways” from these meetings: “Prevention works, treatment is effective, and recovery is possible.”

“The group has put together a speaker’s bureau, and we hope these town hall meetings will generate interest from community organizations, churches, and businesses,” Liller said. “Groups who are interested in scheduling a speaker can call to be connected with a person to present on the topic of their choice.”

“Come out and share your concerns about drug abuse in your community,” said Gregan Crawford, Community Action Vice President. “Learn about substances and their effects, as well as what prevention, treatment, and recovery resources are available.”

For more information about the Town Meetings call Sadie Liller at GCHD at 301-334-7730 Ext. 6599, or Gregan Crawford at Community Action at 301-334-9431, Ext. 6177.

By Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, Garrett County Health Department