Chopticon High School auditorium located at 25390 Colton Point Rd in Morganza
Morganza, MD— St. Mary’s County citizens have seen far too much of the devastating impact of drug addiction. To help educate the community about the dangers of opioid use and addition, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration have created a documentary called “Chasing the Dragon” that is available for viewing, with help from Walden.
Young people in St. Mary’s County are vulnerable to this dangerous addiction. The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office has formed a partnership with the Southern Maryland Young Marines Unit, the FBI Baltimore Field Office and St. Mary’s County Public Schools to provide a free screening of this film at 6 pm Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016, in the Chopticon High School auditorium at 25390 Colton Point Road in Morganza, MD.
The FBI and DEA hope to make personal connections through the video. To help foster those connections, representatives from treatment, prevention, law enforcement, and public health will hold a brief panel discussion before the screening. Representatives from St. Mary’s County Public Schools, St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, St. Mary’s County Health Department, St. Mary’s County Department of Aging & Human Services and Walden Behavioral Health will address the topic of opioid abuse in St. Mary’s County, and how their respective agencies are dealing with the crisis. State and federal stakeholders also will be at the event.
The St. Mary’s County Health Department is also offering a free Overdose Response Program to residents after the documentary screening. Participants will learn to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose and receive a free Naloxone kit. Visit the health department website for more information on the Overdose Response Program and to register for the training. Walk-ins will be accepted, but registration is preferred.
Please visit the event website to register, get directions, or share this event. For more information, contact the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Office, Jennifer Stone at 301-475-4200, ext. 1922, or email Jennifer.Stone@stmarysmd.com.