Treatment Center of Attention: How the Rise of Heroin has Affected Frederick’s Resources

by CMA 303 Comment Closed
By Brendan O'Shaughnessy Heroin has been on the rise in the past few years in the city of Frederick. There have been four arrests for heroin in the past six months, with two of them occurring within the last month. So what is being done about this growing problem? Vivitrol: A New Soldier in the War on Addiction Randy Martin, the Assistant Director of Inmate Services at the Frederick County Detention Center, says that inmates who are admitted for heroin or opiate use have the option of getting a shot of the opiate blocker Vivitrol while they go through treatment. The detention center received the grant for Vivitrol from the Governor Office of Crime Control and Prevention for the injection last year. “I think it’s worked out great […] we’ve had a lot of inmates who have gotten the shot and gotten out,” Martin said. Though Vivitrol has been highly regarded by many professionals, it is by no means a cure-all. Martin also described...
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Drug Treatment Court Programming for Heroin Abusers

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,...
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