Ho Co, do you KNOW dangers of "dabbing"?

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Welcome Back!

HC DrugFree sends best wishes to students, parents, school staff and all of our partners for a safe and successful school year.

HC DrugFree's New Board Chair - Timothy Mitchell, Esq.

Congratulations to Timothy Mitchell, Esq. with Mitchell Law Firm for being named HC DrugFree's Board Chair. Many thanks to outgoing Board Chair and former Director of Pharmacy at the Howard County General Hospital, Masoomeh Khamesian, for her years of service.

HC DrugFree' Teen Advisory Council (TAC)

HC DrugFree's Teen Advisory Council (TAC) meets one Monday evening a month from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at The Barn (Oakland Mills Village Center) and is open to all Howard County high school students. The first TAC meeting will be held on September 21 and the second meeting will be on October 12. Community service hours are available. For more information, please visit www.hcdrugfree.org and go to the Teen Advisory Council page, or contact Joan Webb Scornaienchi, HC DrugFree's Executive Director at [email protected] or 443-435-0040.

Howard County Police Warn of Dangers of Marijuana "Dabbing" - Concentrated Form of Drug is Dangerous to Make and Use

Howard County Police want to raise awareness about the potentially hazardous use of a concentrated form of marijuana known as "dabbing". Using the drug in this form creates a dangerously intense high; manufacturing the drug can cause serious burns and explosions.

The dabbing process can raise marijuana potency from the standard street level of 1 5 percent to 80 percent or more. Click here to read the Howard County Police News Release.

"In the KNOW About Opioid Misuse" Campaign to Launch September 1

HC DrugFree, on behalf of the Howard County Opioid Coalition, will launch "In the KNOW About Opioid Misuse" on September 1. The campaign includes ads in local papers, launch of an opioid microsite on HC DrugFree's website, and release of new Howard County-focused videos featuring local experts in the areas of behavioral health, law and substance misuse education sharing their experience and perspectives on the campaign themes of safe prescribing practices, communication between doctor and patient about opioid risks, and proper storage and disposal of medications.

Are You "In the KNOW"?

According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, the number of teenage athletes who abuse prescription medication is increasing.
Football players are first on the list of athletes who abuse prescription medication.
12% of male athletes and 8% of female athletes are abusing medications.
Teen athletes used illegal substances more than peers who did not play sports.
(Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse, August 2014)

Send us your reaction to these eye-opening statistics for our Parent/Adult Blog. Email to [email protected].

What is Drug Addiction?

Many people do not understand why or how other people become addicted to drugs. Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences to the addicted individual and to those around him or her. Although the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people, the brain changes that occur over time challenge the addicted person's self-control and hamper his or her ability to resist intense impulses to take drugs. Read the facts from the National Institute on Drug Abuse by clicking here.

Permanent Medication Disposal Boxes

Howard County residents can drop off unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications at 3 locations in the County where permanent disposal boxes have been installed. Boxes are located at the Howard County Police Northern District Station (3410 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City) open 24/7, the Howard County Police Southern District Station (11226 Scaggsville Road, Laurel) open 24/7, and the Gary Arthur Community Center (2400 Route 97, Cooksville) open 7 AM to 9 PM Monday-Saturday, and 9 AM to 6 PM on Sundays.

Coming soon: HC DrugFree has partnered with the Howard County Police Department to provide additional permanent medication disposal boxes in the County...Stay tuned for more details.

Free Training to Save a Life! Opioid Overdose Response Training

If your child, spouse or friend is abusing opioids (prescription pain medicines such as Percocet or Vicodin, and street drugs such as heroin), attend the free training offered by the Howard County Health Department. Register by calling the Health Department at 410-313-6202.

HC DrugFree's Newsletters are Now Archived

To read past issues of HC DrugFree's newsletters, go to www.hcdrugfree.org and click on Resources - Newsletter Archive.

For more information, contact

Joan Webb Scornaienchi, Executive Director

HC DrugFree

Wilde Lake Village Center

5305 Village Center Drive, Suite 206

Columbia, MD 21044

443-325-0040

[email protected]

www.hcdrugfree.org

Help us to be able to continue providing invaluable information and resources to the community - DONATE TODAY! We thank you in advance for your support.