Leonardtown, MD — A proposal to reallocate funding to attack the heroin problem in St Mary’s County proved to be controversial at the county commissioners’ April 5 meeting. In the end the approval came on a 3-2 vote to reallocating $25,000 for three programs proposed by the sheriff’s department and the health department.

At the behest of S. Mary’s County Health Officer Dr. Meenakshi Brewster the commissioners last year allocated a one-time $100,000 grant and approved a plan for the use of the money for five programs during the current fiscal years which ends in June.

With the fiscal year running out Dr. Brewster, Sheriff Tim Cameron and Commander of the Corrections Division Captain Michael Merican appeared before the commissioners to ask for a reallocation one quarter of the funding. Cameron told the commissioners that one of the approved programs, a day reporting pilot program in Lexington Park, had proven too expensive to set up with the monies allocated. Cameron said it would take the hiring of several people which his budget couldn’t absorb.

Instead the officials proposed the reallocation of the monies to the following three programs:
• $8,000 for the purchase of replacement Naloxone for law enforcement officers.
• $7,711 for pre-trial substance abuse screening for the last quarter of the fiscal year
• $6.600 for the purchase of residential substance abuse services for those on the waiting list.

Cameron explained that the Naloxone, which is an antidote for opioid overdoses, has saved 20 lives. But he said it has been found that it only has a shelf life of one to two years and needs to be replaced.

Merican argued strongly for the pre-trial screening to supplement the successful pre-trial detention program initiated last year

And, Cameron and Brewster said the need for residential substance abuse programs is shown by the waiting list for the programs.

But Commissioner Mike Hewitt [R – 2nd District] quickly jumped in and argued for the return of the $25,000 to the general fund. He said he was concerned about the lack of a plan to address the problem and instead there seemed to be a hit-and-miss approach the programs aimed at opioid abuse. “My concern is you don’t have an overall look,” Hewitt said.

Hewitt also said he liked the day reporting proposal and wondered why it wasn’t carried out. Cameron reiterated his concern about the lack of funding to carry out the program, which he did agree was a good idea.

Commissioner John O’Connor [R – 3rd District} said he supported the use of Naloxone (which also is called Narcon), but he agreed with Hewitt’s reasoning. O’Connor asked for a more detailed accounting of the need for replacement Naloxone so it could be budgeted separately.

Commissioner Tom Jarboe [R – District 1] argued in support of the request by the sheriff and health department. “If this $25,000 is going to save one life it is worth it,” he said.

In the end a motion by Commissioner Todd Morgan [R – 4th District] to approve the request carried by a 3-2 vote with Hewitt and O’Connor opposing it.

Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@thebaynet.com