The Syringe Services Program Standing Advisory Committee will hold its third meeting on Monday, May 8th from 2:30pm to 5pm at DHMH’s Prevention and Health Promotion Offices at 500 North Calvert Street on the 5th floor. Meetings are open to the public and there will be a time for public comment.
Background:
As part of his response to the opioid epidemic, Governor Larry Hogan signed SB97, Opioid-Associated Disease Prevention and Outreach Programs, on May 10, 2016.
The bill authorized programs across the state to provide people suffering from addiction with clean needles and linkages to treatment, counseling, education services, and testing for transmittable diseases.
The law came into effect October 1, 2016. The statute also called for the establishment of a Standing Advisory Committee (SAC) to provide technical assistance to syringe services programs. The SAC met previously on October 26, 2016 and on February 27th, 2017.
Details and Agenda:
The meeting will include:
· Updates on efforts to develop Syringe Services Program applications
· A presentation from Delegate Lam on relevant bills from the previous legislative session
· A presentation by Clay Stamp, Director of the Opioid Overdose Command Center
· A presentation by Daniel Atzmon and Captain James Rhoden on Baltimore’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program
· A chance for Committee Members to share what they bring to the group
· An opportunity for public comment
· Light refreshments and a chance to network in the half hour before the meeting is called to order at 3pm
Please bring ID to get in to the DHMH Prevention and Health Promotion Offices building. The office is located right across from the Baltimore Sun building and within a few blocks of Mercy Hospital. Parking and public transportation information may be found here.
Questions should be directed to Andrew Bell, Syringe Services Program Coordinator, reachable at Andrew.Bell@maryland.gov.
Prior coverage on Conduit Street: