MDH and Montgomery County partner to launch an opioid treatment center for kids. Opioid settlement dollars fund the program to fight the crisis.
The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services announced the launch of a Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Minors program. The program is designed to fill a gap in care specifically for Marylanders under the age of 21. The initiative is funded through Maryland’s Opioid Restitution Fund and Montgomery County’s Opioid Abatement Funds, reflecting a strong partnership aimed at tackling the opioid crisis.
As previously covered by MACo, Maryland’s counties participating in settlements with opioids manufacturers have been implementing strategic plans with the primary goal of reducing the number of opioid-related deaths. The Baltimore Banner reported that the treatment center is in response to “grim data showing the state’s youngest residents are not immune from the opioid epidemic.”
From the press release:
“By providing specialized inpatient care, we are providing Montgomery County youth struggling with addiction the focused treatment they need to recover and rebuild their lives. Our partnership with the Maryland Department of Health ensures that we are meeting this urgent need head-on and offering real hope to those impacted by substance use disorders,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich.
With 15 dedicated beds, the program will serve youth across the state from its base in Baltimore City. Patients who are in the program will receive:
- 24-hour medical monitoring and evaluation
- Substance, opioid and alcohol treatment services
- Family treatment and engagement
- Culturally and linguistically appropriate services
- Interventions to apply recovery skills and prevent relapse
- Support in promoting personal responsibility
- Help to reintegrate into the community
For more information on behavioral health resources for children and adolescents, visit the Maryland Department of Health’s website.
