new & notable
members and over 100 supporters working together to educate and empower others on the experience and process of recovery, through advocacy and special events. Facing Addiction is under the umbrella of Recovery Anne Arundel. Both focus on the Community by advocating and engaging family and loved ones impacted by addiction. Our power is in our experience,” says Keane. “We had to navigate the labyrinth of seeking help for a loved one and are trying to ease that path for others similarly affected. We want to streamline the process.” Recovery Anne Arundel is also affiliated with Serenity Sistas, an Annapolis nonprofit that offers supportive housing to individuals in recovery from substance misuse. Angel Traynor, director of Serenity Sistas and coordinator of Recovery Anne Arundel, saw an opportunity in late 2016 to partner with the national arm of Facing Addiction on its new initiative concerning community engagement. Anne Arundel County was chosen as one of the first 15 communities nationwide to start the pilot “Community Project.” The Community Project will bring together resources to combat the addiction crisis, including securing increased localized funding, training advocates, working with elected officials, providing media guidance to highlight solutions, and working with those in the community directly affected by addiction. As part of this outreach, they are inviting community members to attend open meetings to learn more. “The sessions are designed to provide an opportunity for people who have loved ones in active addiction or in recovery to share what obstacles they’ve encountered, what supports they most need, and what has worked well for them,” according to Keane. The meetings will include information about local resources that can be helpful, but organizers are also hoping attendees will contribute information that might be helpful to others. Keane says based on what is shared at the meetings, organizers will then develop
resource guides and seek new ways to get the best information available to the people who need it. By informing public officials the specific needs of the communities, Keane hopes that programs can be tailored to meet them head on. In addition to the open forum, each session will begin with a free NARCAN training class, which will teach the use of intranasal naloxone, a prescription medicine that when used properly, can reverse an opioid overdose and prevent death. The training is recommended for at-risk individuals, family members, friends and the associates of any individual who is using and at risk of overdosing not just on heroin, but prescription opioid pain medications as well. After completing the training, participants will receive a free naloxone kit to administer to victims of an opioid overdose. No one likes to think addiction can strike their family. Today, Denise Williams is an active member of Recovery Anne Arundel. She urges parents, families and friends to attend the Community Listening Sessions. “Knowing what I know today, addiction is not something that is chosen. The only way for it to stop is for there to be no new users,“ says Keane. “Come to the meetings to learn what you can do now. Even if your child is in elementary school, you have to start the discussion. Most middle schoolers are already testing the waters—they have tried alcohol, pot, Juuls. [With my kids] I thought, ‘It’s just a phase.’ No one told me drugs today are more potent, more addictive. This is real. Come to the meetings to get educated and understand how addiction works. You have the power to stop the epidemic.” For more information about Recovery Anne Arundel visit recoveryannearundel.org. Questions on Recovery Anne Arundel can be directed to Angel Traynor, Executive Director of Serenity Sistas Inc., at serenitysista1@ gmail.com. For more information about Facing Addiction Anne Arundel visit recoveryannearundel.org/facing-addiction.
1,077
People overdosed in Anne Arundel County in 2018
166
People in Anne Arundel County who died from overdosing in 2018
170,000 People tried heroin for the first time nationally
Catch our next Addictive: A Series About Opioids in May M ARCH 2019
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