Lauren Fowler
Barstow, MD – Carol Porto, the program director of the addiction treatment center that bears her name, commended the nine-man squad of sheriff’s deputies for their significant “milestone.” Porto explained that the officers did something she had wanted to do over 20 years ago—“linking everybody together,” that is, individuals, agencies and organizations determined to stop the rising number of drug addictions in Calvert County. Oddly enough, Porto recalled the county’s incumbent sheriff during the early 1990s called her on the telephone and asked “what the hell are you doing?” when he read a newspaper story about Porto’s suggestion that everyone get on the same page in the battle against drugs.
The event, held Wednesday, Aug. 19 at the Calvert County Fairgrounds, was billed “Overcoming Maryland’s Heroin Epidemic.” It was organized by Squad 4 of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office.
“Some of us have family members who are fighting addiction,” said Sgt. Craig Kontra, the squad’s leader.
After starting the two-hour program with an outdoor candlelight vigil, several speakers told personal stories of struggles. The first speaker, Lauren Fowler, received applause toward the end of her presentation when she stated she was marking “20 months clean for the first time since I was 15. Life is much better now. But it [addiction] never goes away.”
Fowler chronicled her life as a substance abuser, culminating with an addiction to heroin, which happened despite her involvement in recreational and scholastic sports.
Another athletic standout, Frederick County resident Dana Bender, lost his life earlier this year as the result of a heroin overdose. “I still think about him every day,” said his father, Steve Bender of Lusby. The elder Bender described his son as a straight A student and athlete so talented he received numerous scholarship offers to play college football. Dana Bender was only 22 when he died this past February at a house party in Lusby.
Later that month, Steve Bender helped start an organization called Must End all Narcotics Deaths (MEND). “All we want to do is stop this madness,” he said.
Representatives from the Calvert County Health Department, Calvert Alliance of Substance Abuse, Parents Affected By Addiction (PABA) and Calvert County Hospice also addressed the audience.
Porto, whose treatment center currently has 150 patients, reminded the audience that free training in “opiod overdose response” will be offered Thursday, Aug. 27 at Northeast Community Center in Chesapeake Beach starting at 7 p.m. According to an event flier, the training is for relatives and friends of people who use opiates such as heroin, methadone, Oxycontin, Percocet and Vicodin. Trainees will be schooled on how to properly apply the medication Naloxone, which can safely reverse an overdose from opioids. Space is limited and those planning to attend are asked to RSVP to Ginger of Advocates for a Drug Free Calvert County at 443-510-7883.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
