The drug problem is Cecil County's number 1 issue. Ninety percent of our crime is drug related; we have the 3rd worst crime rate in the State of MD as well as one of the highest overdose and child maltreatment rates. Social Services, schools, economic development, and quality of life are all affected. Until we start addressing this issue, how can we move the County in a positive direction?
To address the problem, we need more effective drug treatment facilities, drug awareness education, and more accountability and resources on the State and Federal level.
Drug treatment facilities should be more effective. I have requested that the State of MD change their comar regulations to require more counseling and more effective drug testing of their clients.
Dirty doctors should be aggressively dealt with. The Maryland Board of Physicians oversees this issue and they have been criticized for their backlog of complaints. Our local hospital should be adopting protocols to deny doctors with questionable backgrounds requesting affiliation with their hospital.
We need an effective Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (pdmp). The federal government has required all States implement but MD is one of seven that still has not.
I have requested that our Congressman, Andy Harris, submit laws making it mandatory for adjoining states to share Pdmp information; to revoke prescription writing privileges for Doctors in all States when it's been revoked in one State; and to support Cecil County in obtaining a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Designation which provides federal resources.
Keep in mind, the pharmaceutical industry is by far the biggest lobbyist in Washington DC. In my pursuit to address this issue I have discovered that many profit in sustaining this problem and until we stand up and hold our elected, appointed and community representatives accountable, we will not be able to effectively address this issue.
