Residents Turn Out to Turn In Unwanted Medications and Sharps
On Saturday, October 28, 2023 the Frederick County Health Department partnered with the Frederick Police Department, Maryland State Police, and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to host a drug and sharp take-back day as part of “National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.” Between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., 105 residents turned in over 150 pounds of…
County Awarded Two Grants to Combat the Opioid Epidemic
Frederick County has been awarded two grants, totaling almost $2 million, to help Frederick County combat the opioid epidemic. A 2023 First Responders – Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (FR-CARA) Grant comes from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in the amount of $1.8 million over the next four years. The second grant…
How the Coronavirus is Affecting Northern Frederick County
James Rada, Jr. With the State of Maryland encouraging people to stay in and reducing the ability of businesses to operate, Christmas was sadder than usual this year. However, at least one of the two vaccines against COVID-19 was expected to be approved and starting to be administered by this month. As of December 19,…
COVID-19 Testing Sites in Thurmont & Emmitsburg
The Frederick County Health Department is offering free COVID-19 testing in both Thurmont and Emmitsburg. These tests are free and do not require a doctors order or that you have any symptoms. The next Thurmont clinic will be held on Friday, August 7, at the Thurmont Town Offices, 615 East Main Street, from 5:00-7:00 p.m.…
Brooks Behavioral Health Services Helps Address Region’s Drug Problem
James Rada, Jr. Brooks Behavioral Health has started taking appointments for individual, group, and family therapy sessions to address addiction problems. The office is located at 31B Water Street in Thurmont, and is one of two offices that Clinical Director David Brooks maintains in the county. Brooks has worked as a Criminal Justice Program Manager…
Fighting Vaping in Schools
James Rada, Jr. At the beginning of the school year, staff at Thurmont Middle School noticed that the boys’ bathrooms smelled fruity, which is not a smell most people associate with boys’ bathrooms. That was when the staff realized that e-cigarettes and vaping had become a problem with middle-school students. The Thurmont Middle School PTA…
Up & Out Foundation Takes On Addiction
Deb Spalding Korey Shorb of Emmitsburg has been “down and out.”As a former heroin addict, he was so far down that he lied to his family, stole from others, started dealing drugs, went to jail, and then to prison. He repeated those same shaming behaviors over and over again. It was a cycle during which…
