Drug Use – Hood Reporting for the Media

Narcan Essential in Combating Overdoses

April 28, 2016May 3, 2016 by CMA 303 Comment Closed

By James A. Brown Cities all across the country are facing an epidemic that not everyone is aware of. Heroin, a narcotic, is being sold in abundance all over the United States. The drug is known to be cut with other drugs such as floor cleaner and fentanyl making it even more dangerous for users. Frederick Police Chief Edward Hargis explained that some of the heroin coming off the streets has tested as high as 97% pure The seriousness of the epidemic has been the primary concern for the Frederick Police Department. The heroin in Frederick is mostly linked to gang activity. Gangs are suspected to be the organizations selling heroin in mass amounts. MS-13 and Black Guerilla Family are two of many gangs operating in the Frederick area. When there are multiple gangs operating in similar areas, there is a chance of turf wars going on to protect the areas they are operating in. Heroin coupled with increasing gang activity has...

Maryland Youth Ranch gets revision, aims to help youth struggling with drug abuse

April 28, 2016April 28, 2016 by CMA 303 Comment Closed

By Breann Harwood The Maryland Sheriff’s Youth Ranch, located in Urbana, once served as a place where young boys could come to receive group home services. It provided guidance, support, and ultimately, life changing programs. “The Ranch showed me a different side of life,” Cedric Spencer said. “It wasn’t all peachy, but it helped me to get my head on straight. I had guidance and I liked that I always had a roof over my head, food to eat, and they got me back in school. I lived there for nine months and at the end it showed me I didn’t want to live the lifestyle I was living before.” The Ranch thrived for 41 years as a foster care placement for homeless, at-risk, and troubled children in the Maryland area. However, due to a lack of boys being referred to the Ranch because they were placed in foster homes instead of group homes, Board members decided that it was no longer feasible...

Drug Treatment Court Programming for Heroin Abusers

April 28, 2016April 28, 2016 by Elizabeth Atwood Comment Closed

By: Chloe Scott Heroin overdoses and fatalities are happening at an alarming rate in the state of Maryland. According to the sheriff's office, 32 people in Frederick County died in 2014 from overdosing on heroin and the number is still increasing. The Frederick County Drug Treatment Court aims to decrease the drug abuse in Frederick County with their redirection programming that holds all substance abusers accountable. Providing a solution to the increasing fatalities occurring in the county is shifting. The shift is staying away from harsh accountability arrests to redirection programs that still hold abusers accountable, but take into consideration their rehabilitation. Currently 255 participants are in the Frederick County Drug Treatment Court program. 102 have graduated and 82 have not made it through the program. 60 of those participants are heroin abusers. Frederick County Drug Treatment Court Coordinator, Paul Wolford states “We have seen a daily average increase in participants by 10,” Wolford said. The Frederick County Drug Treatment Court (DTC) is a voluntary,...

Frederick County Council struggles to bring medical marijuana to the area

April 28, 2016April 28, 2016 by CMA 303 Comment Closed

By Katie Misuraca Frederick County Council has a tough battle ahead with the legalization of medical marijuana without the support of some members in the Frederick area. Frederick County Council Vice President M.C. Keegan-Ayer has been trying to propose a bill that would have permitted medical marijuana to be grown in facilities in county agricultural zones. “It is a good industry for Frederick County,” Keegan-Ayer said. “It gives our farmers an option for an economically viable crop to be growing in a small segment of their property.” Keegan-Ayer stated she thinks that the medical marijuana industry would be huge economic boost for farmers during drought seasons or during slower growing season throughout the year. “It would allow them [farmers] to continue to do the more traditional forms of farming with the rest of their property even in times where it may not be as economically profitable,” Keegan-Ayer said. For example, if the farmer was a dairy farmer, or having a down year where the prices are...