ANNAPOLIS, MD – Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford today announced that Maryland has taken additional steps in its fight against the heroin and opioid epidemic by providing $608,832 in grant funding to projects designed to identify and apprehend drug dealers, especially those involved in gangs; help Maryland families battling substance abuse; and provide Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs and other re-entry programs to inmates at local detention centers.
Last February, to address Maryland’s growing heroin and opioid crisis, Governor Hogan formally created the Heroin and Opioid Emergency Task Force—a group made up of law enforcement professionals, elected officials, and substance abuse experts—and appointed Lt. Governor Rutherford as its chair. The funds announced today will be administered by the (GOCCP), and support the broad mission and efforts of the Task Force.
“I am pleased to report that our administration is making real progress in strengthening programs that provide needed services to Marylanders struggling with substance abuse,” Lt. Governor Rutherford said. “The governor and I pledged that addressing the heroin and opioid crisis would be a major priority, and we will continue to advocate for treatment and prevention programs, as well as the most effective law enforcement response to this epidemic.”
“The programs we are funding illustrate the scale of Maryland’s commitment to ending the heroin and opioid epidemic,” said Christopher Shank, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention. “No community is immune from it. That’s why we are providing these grants to regions in every part of Maryland.”
This round of grant funding is from the federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (BJAG) program, which supports a broad range of state and local criminal justice initiatives critical to Maryland’s goal of safe communities. Earlier this summer, under the direction of Governor Hogan and Lt. Governor Rutherford, GOCCP awarded $281,011 in funding to the Ocean City Police Department, Dorchester County, and the Maryland State Police for criminal investigations into how heroin is brought over state lines, and to provide MAT re-entry programs for county detention center inmates.
Allegany Allegany County State’s Attorney’s Office Prosecution Partnership Targeting Priority Offenders in Cumberland and Allegany County $55,532
Baltimore City The Family Recovery Program, Inc. Partners in Recovery Together (PIRT) provides Peer Recovery Advocates to work with clients in substance abuse programs. $100,000
Carroll Hampstead Police Department Mobile License Plate Reader Technology uses LPR to identify criminal activity including illegal drug activity. $18,150
Charles The Center for Children, Inc. The Adolescent Substance Use Integration Initiative funds a new DHMH-licensed treatment program in Southern Maryland. $69,000
Charles Charles County Circuit Court The Family Recovery Court program supports families that need services because of parental substance abuse. Funds support Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) as well as short- and long-term residential treatment. $98,554
Howard Howard County Dept. of Corrections Targeted Reentry Services funds programs that include MAT support services, mediation, and a Strengthening Families Program. $49,706
Montgomery Montgomery County Police Department Heroin Overdose Prevention Program funds heroin paraphernalia education and funds for criminal investigations & forensic analysis. $35,000
St. Mary’s St. Mary’s County Government Project Kicking the Habit is a pilot MAT Re-entry program for county detention center inmates. $52,000
.Somerset Somerset County Local Management Board The Collaborative Anti-Gang Enforcement & Strategies program will use funds to purchase equipment including cameras and a radar unit, and provide gang investigation training. $130,890
Total $608,832