Opioid Misuse Prevention Program

In an attempt to address and curb the local opioid crisis, the Frederick County Health Department’s Behavioral Health Services Division created the Opioid Misuse Prevention Program (OMPP). Supported by the Maryland Department of Health, Behavioral Health Administration, funds have been provided to implement evidence-based opioid misuse prevention strategies to:

  • increase awareness and knowledge about safe storage and disposal methods of prescription medication;
  • increase the awareness and knowledge of location medication disposal boxes in Frederick County; and
  • increase the community’s knowledge about the harms associated with the misuse of prescription opioids. 

  Strategies implemented to accomplish these goals include:

  • outreach services to all pharmacists in Frederick County;
  • collaboration and county-wide participation in two, DEA-sponsored “Drug Take Back Day” events; and
  • an educational social media campaign for young adult and parents.


          Drug Take Back Day – Saturday, October 27, 2018      

DEA_TakeBack2018_DigitalBillboard_1400x400_Eng    

           Medication Disposal Box locations in Frederick County, MD can be found here

Take Back My Life

Hear real stories of prescription opioid and heroin addiction at www.takebackmylife.org and learn more about prevention on Twitter: @FCHealthDept and Facebook: facebook.com/FCHealthDept or Call 211 for help and treatment options 24 hours a day, 7 days a weeks.  

Parents

What are the risks of medication misuse?

The dangers of prescription drugs (Rx), including opioids, can lead to addiction, overdose, and death. There are both immediate and long-term risks to Rx medicine abuse.  In the short term, overdosing can be fatal, as can mixing Rx medicine with over-the counter medicine and/or alcohol.  In the long term, prescription opioids (pain relievers) and other prescription medicines have been proven to be addictive.  Relying on Rx medicines have been proven to be addictive.  Relying on Rx medicines at a young age to help "manage" life can establish a lifelong pattern of dependency and prevent teens from learning important coping skills.  The use of someone else's medicines is not only illegal but also dangerous.  When used as prescribed, prescription drugs are safe medications but misusing them has many health risk including addiction, overdose and even death.  Safeguard your medications with three steps.  Monitor.  Secure. Dispose.

Medication Disposal and Storage

Disposal of unwanted medication is important so that drugs do not fail into the wrong hands.  It's important that medications are disposed of and destroyed using methods that are both legal and environmentally friendly (www.epa.gov)

Frederick County Medication Storage and Disposal Resource Guide: Protect your family by properly storing and disposing of you medications.  (Booklet)

How do I safely dispose of any household needles (Sharps)?

OMPP Coalition

The purpose of the Opioid Misuse Prevention Program Coalition is to provide input in the strategic planning process, develop effective implementation strategies, and activities to be conducted over the next several years to address the opioid misuse problem in Frederick County.  The OMPP Coalition will accomplish this through planning, implementation and evaluation of the strategies and activities.  The OMPP Coalition currently includes members of law enforcement (Local, State and Federal), pharmacists, hospital personnel, local government, substance abuse treatment providers, local colleges, and the public school system.  The coalition meets every other month on the third Thursday of that month at 9:30 am.  Click here for coalition meeting agendas and minutes.


OMPP Strategic Plan