The purpose of the Talbot County Health Department’s Substance Use Prevention Program is to assist community groups, agencies, and individuals in providing programs and activities to prevent alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and to build a healthier Talbot community.
Talbot County Health Department
Prevention Office
510 Cadmus Lane
Easton, Maryland 21601
Phone: (410) 819-5600
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Evening and weekend services are provided as needed and upon request.
Services
Our Substance Abuse Prevention Program offers assistance to community groups, agencies, and individuals in providing programs and activities to prevent alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse and to build a healthier community.
Examples of services include: Opioid Overdose Response Training including naloxone/Narcan Distribution, tobacco/smoking and vaping cessation support, parenting skills classes, storage/disposal initiatives, health communications, media awareness campaigns, TIPS trainings, mini grants, enforcement efforts, prevention education programs, educational workshops, and more.
Our Prevention staff is available to speak with community groups, businesses, and faith-based organizations. Additionally, they participate in a wide variety of community events.
Opioid Overdose Response Training
Opioid Overdose Reversal Drugs (OORDs) such as naloxone/Narcan have been proven to decrease mortality and morbidity in our community by reducing the “down-time” of overdose patients, decreasing rates of fatal overdose and hospitalization, as well as anoxic brain injury which may result from an overdose. Narcan is a drug that reverses an overdose caused by the use of opioids, including prescription medications such as oxycodone and Vicodin, and non-prescribed opioids such as heroin and fentanyl.
Maryland Overdose Response Programs (ORPs) work with local agencies on interventions to distribute OORDs to reduce fatal overdose. Talbot County Health Department’s ORP provides free training and overdose response kits without cost to individuals, agencies, or locations interested in administering this lifesaving drug.
Upon receipt of training, each individual will receive an overdose response kit. Kits are distributed to adult patients, family members, friends, and/or other persons who are in a position to assist an At-Risk Person. Overdose Response Kits are pre-packaged bags containing the nasal form of naloxone (Narcan) and instructions, gloves, rescue breathing shield, information on available resources for substance use treatment and recovery, and/or other items/literature deemed appropriate by the Department.
It is important to keep in mind that the distribution of the Overdose Response Kit is not the solution to the overdose crisis, but it serves as a mechanism to begin the conversation of access to care, treatment, and recovery. Treatment and recovery services are available through the contact information found in every kit.
If you think someone has overdosed, call 911. Naloxone typically wears off in 30-90 minutes and the person can stop breathing again unless more naloxone is available.
If you administer naloxone, call the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 within 1-2 hours or when you are safely able to do so.
For prevention programming including Narcan training, contact (410) 819-5600.
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Narcan Storage and Security
Narcan nasal spray should be stored in its original packaging following manufacturer recommendations for storage – Keep Narcan in the blisters and cartons provided, at room temperature between 68°F and 77°F and protected from light. Narcan should be stored securely in a convenient area, both for ease of access if needed and to keep out of the reach of children and pets.
Narcan Disposal
Expired or damaged Narcan should be disposed of in compliance with all local, state, tribal and federal environmental and healthcare regulations, which may include disposal as permitted in the trash, or at local law enforcement medication drop-box or pharmaceutical waste container as appropriate.
Other Prevention Programs & Resources
Safe Storage and Disposal
You can get free medication disposal bags (Deterra bags) and medicine locks at the Health Department.
Place any unwanted medications in a Deterra bag and the formula in the bag will deactivate the chemicals. That’s it! The Deterra bag can then be thrown away in the regular trash.
Get additional information about the disposal of unused or expired drugs at the Food and Drug Administration website.
21 Matters Initiative
21 MattersTM provides training and support materials to help alcohol licensees be responsible retailers who consistently check IDs for proof-of-age and refuse alcohol sales to minors.
ServSafe
The Department partners with ServSafe to offer Responsible Beverage Servers courses. These sessions equip hospitality workers with the skills needed to properly serve alcoholic beverages.
Good Samaritan Law
According to Maryland Law, if you help someone in good faith who is in need of medical assistance from a drug or alcohol medical emergency, you and the person you help are immune from criminal prosecution for certain crimes (Md. Ann. Code Art. CR § 1-210).
Opioid Misuse Prevention Program (OMPP)
The OMPP is administered by the Office of Population Health Improvement (OPHI) within the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and utilizes the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) process. Funds have been provided to jurisdictions to strengthen and enhance their local overdose prevention plans and to implement evidence-based opioid misuse prevention strategies contained in those enhanced plans.
The evidence-based strategic plan activities being implemented may include: prescriber/dispenser education; Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) awareness and enrollment; media campaigns about sharing, storing and disposal of prescription medications; education regarding the risks and harms opioid misuse; public awareness of naloxone and the Good Samaritan Law; drug take back events and drop boxes; dissemination of locked storage boxes for parents and senior citizens; academic detailing, and utilization and evaluation reports on Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT).
OMPP is funded by the following:
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- Maryland Behavioral Health Administration (BHA)
Additional Programs and Resources: