The Maryland Department of Health’s Drug Overdose Surveillance and Epidemiology (DOSE) team has released its 2024 Annual Report, which examines suspected non-fatal overdose trends across the state using emergency medical services (EMS) and emergency department (ED) data. The report helps identify patterns that can guide prevention and response efforts. Key findings include: Remember, safely storing…
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced plans to temporarily classify synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and three similar substances as Schedule I controlled substances. 7-OH products are made with 7-hydroxymitragynine, a chemical related to kratom that can produce strong opioid-like effects. While this compound occurs naturally in very small amounts in kratom leaves, many products…
Howard County has launched SmartER, an innovative online tool that helps residents make informed healthcare decisions by providing real-time information on hospital emergency department capacity, nearby urgent care centers, and the services available at each location. When you or a family member isn’t feeling well, SmartER can help you find the right level of care…
Each July, new laws passed by the Maryland General Assembly go into effect, impacting everything from health and education to driving and drug safety. Several new Maryland laws may affect healthcare, mental health, and substance use prevention efforts: To keep you informed, we’ve created a quick-reference spreadsheet highlighting the laws most relevant to local families…
As marijuana becomes more widely available and socially accepted, many teens and families assume it is harmless. However, a growing body of research suggests that marijuana use during adolescence may be linked to negative outcomes in both school performance and mental health. A large review of 63 studies involving nearly 440,000 young people found that…
When someone is experiencing an overdose, every second matters. Yet many people hesitate to call 911 because they are worried about getting themselves or someone else into legal trouble. Maryland’s Good Samaritan Law was created to address this concern and encourage people to seek emergency help without delay. The Maryland Department of Health recently released…
A new synthetic opioid called cychlorphine is drawing attention from public health officials, medical examiners, and law enforcement agencies across the United States. While many families have heard of fentanyl, cychlorphine is part of a newer group of synthetic opioids that experts say may be even more potent and difficult to detect. Reports indicate that…
The 2025-26 HoCo Student Film Festival was held on May 1, 2026 from 7:00-8:30 pm at the Miller Library Congratulations to this year’s talented Film Fest winners! Play the winning film in the HC DrugFree Public Service Announcement category, One Pill Can Kill, created by Srivatsa Pusuluri, Roshan Gopi, Advaith Nair, and Guru Velivelli Counterfeit…
HC DrugFree is excited to announce the successful completion of our 2026 Spring Life Skills classes! Over the past several weeks, middle and high school students came together online to learn, practice, and build the tools they need to make safe, healthy decisions throughout the school year. The Life Skills sessions focused on practical skills…
On Saturday, April 25, 2026, HC DrugFree’s Medication Collection site gathered 1,215.5 lbs of unwanted and expired medications (43 bins) for proper disposal, contributing to an impressive national total of 642,410.4 lbs (321 tons) on the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) National Drug Take Back Day. HC DrugFree also distributed 103 medication lock boxes to help families store medications securely and prevent misuse. Thank you to everyone…
