KEY PURPLE

MESSAGES

A grassroots call to action to unify the community and reduce substance-related deaths and overdoses.

For immediate help call 211!

1 WE CARE

Frederick County supports those who struggle with addiction and their loved ones.

We care for those who are in active addiction and people in recovery. How do I help my friend?

We care for the families, friends, and communities that are affected by addiction. Questions parents should ask

We support our first responders and providers who witness the realities of addiction every day.

2 HOPE/HELP IS HERE

The Frederick County community offers hope and resources.

Treatment is effective. Visit findtreatment.samhsa.gov or call 2-1-1.

People recover. bridgesconnected.org/substance-abuse-links
Narcan saves lives. Learn how you can get trained in overdose response. https://bha.health.maryland.gov/NALOXONE/Pages/Home.aspx

3 LET'S TALK

We invest in Frederick County through prevention education.

Prevention works. Take advantage of teachable moments. Find out how to talk to youth about substance use no matter their age. drugfree.org
Prevent substance misuse. Lock up prescriptions and dispose of unused medicine. Learn more prevention tips at stayintheknow.org

Addiction changes the brain.

NEED TO KNOW FACTS!

1. Four out of five people who use heroin started with recreational use of prescription painkillers. (NIDA)

2. Sixty-five percent of people misusing prescription painkillers get them from friends or family. (DEA)

3. Prescription painkillers are killing more people than car accidents and homicides combined. (CDC)

4. About 75 percent of teens say they can easily get prescription painkillers from a parent’s medicine cabinet. (Partnership for Drug-Free America)

5. On average, over 130 people die from an opioid overdose each day. (CDC)

6. Alcohol continues to be a primary concern in Frederick as well as opioid/heroin use. (Frederick’s Community Health Needs Assessment.)

7. There were 279 non-fatal and 55 fatal opioid-related overdoses that occurred in Frederick County in 2018. (Frederick County Sheriff’s Office)

8. More than 1,000 people each day are treated in emergency rooms for misusing prescription painkillers. (CDC)

9. If you have any questions about how to access prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction services, call the Health Department’s Behavioral Health Services Division at 301-600-1755. Each day more than 650,000 painkiller prescriptions are dispensed. (DEA)

10. Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, is 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin. (NIDA)

11. More than 20 percent of people prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse them. (NIDA)

12. After marijuana and alcohol, prescription drugs are the most commonly misused substance by Americans ages 14 and older. (NIDA)

13. The Good Samaritan Law protects people who help with an overdose from arrest and prosecution for certain crimes.

14. Opioids include prescription painkillers like Vicodin, synthetics like Fentanyl and heroin.

15. Opioid Use Disorder is a chronic, relapsing brain disease. (NIDA)

16. Narcan (naloxone) is FDA-approved for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose.

17. Anyone can get Narcan at a Maryland pharmacy without a prescription.

18. If you suspect an overdose, call 911 before administering Narcan AND stay with the person.

19. There are FDA-approved medications to treat opioid use disorder; talk to your treatment provider. For more information visit https://store.samhsa.gov/system/files/pep18-treatment-loc.pdf