Agencies Collaborate to Host Town Meeting on Opioid Use

The public is invited to attend a Garrett County Opioid Town Hall Meeting on July 10 at the Grantsville Volunteer Fire Department at 178 Springs Rd, Grantsville, beginning at 6 p.m.

“We want to 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 second in a series of town meetings. 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.”

The first Opioid Town Hall Meeting drew more than 130 people on June 14 to the Southern Garrett Rescue squad, where public health, physicians, community members, and those in recovery talked about individual experiences, community perceptions, and how we can help those in need.

Garrett County Health Officer Bob Stephens listed three “takeaways” from the meeting: “Prevention works, treatment is effective, and recovery is possible.”

“We are hoping this initiative will also draw support from community organizations, churches, and businesses,” Liller said. “And that it will generate interest for individuals to volunteer to be on our speaker’s bureau.”

“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.

Pictured above are some of the speakers and attendees of the June Opioid Town Hall Meeting held in Oakland, including, left to right, Ashley Elliot, Paul Liller, Suzanne Sincell, Don Sincell, Sabrina Tasker, Brenda Sisler, Gregan Crawford, Terri Weaver, Fred Polce, Matt Friend, Brian Murray, Daphne Gooding, Elaine Hinebaugh, Kristen DeWitt, Lisa Thayer Welch, Bob Stephens, Kathy Beals, Robb Corley, Sadie Liller, and Paul DeKraai.

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

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