Cameron Appointed to Governor's Task Force

sockgirl77

Well-Known Member
Sheriff Cameron Appointed to Governor's Heroin and Opioid Emergency Task Force


ANNAPOLIS, Maryland – Governor Larry Hogan today joined with Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford to announce the establishment of both the Heroin and Opioid Emergency Task Force and a separate Inter-Agency Coordinating Council. Both groups will work and support efforts to address Maryland’s growing heroin and opioid crisis.

“For far too long, state and local agencies have worked in silos with little communication and less coordination,” said Governor Hogan. “The purpose of the inter-agency council and task force is to connect the dots of prevention, treatment, and recovery and maximize our resources and expertise to come up with real solutions to save and restore lives.”

By signing Executive Order 01.01.2015.12, Governor Hogan formally created the Heroin and Opioid Emergency Task Force, a group which is made up of law enforcement professionals, elected officials, and substance abuse experts. The task force will meet regularly and solicit input and guidance from a wide variety of sources throughout the state. The group will also meet with and receive guidance from educators, families of those suffering from addiction, and other vested stakeholders.

The members of the Heroin and Opioid Emergency Task Force are:

•The Honorable Julie S. Solt, Frederick County Circuit Court
•Delegate Brett Wilson, District 2B, Washington County
•Sheriff Timothy Cameron, St. Mary’s County
•Tracey Myers-Preston, MD Addiction Directors Council
•Dr. Bankole Johnson, UMD School of Medicine, Psychiatry Department Chair
•Michael B. Finegan, Peninsula Mental Health Services
•Dr. Marc Fishman, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
•Elizabeth Embry, Attorney General’s Office, Chief of the Criminal Division

http://firstsheriff.blogspot.com/2015/02/sheriff-cameron-appointed-to-governors.html

I have all the faith in the world that Sheriff Cameron will do a great job!
 

Dakota

~~~~~~~
There could be some good in all this. Perhaps they can ensure emergency rooms don't hand out 30 pain pills to some cry baby coming in with a hurt wrist but instead give them 2 or 3 pills and tell them to see their doctor. If all ER's would do this, punks wouldn't hospital or doctor shop.

Perhaps methadone can be issued at the clinic STATEWIDE on a daily basis and not hand out 30 pills to be sold on our streets.

If everyone is on the same page, we might be able to get a leash on the pill problem and eventually slow down the herion problem.
 

Chris0nllyn

Well-Known Member
Apparently you do not know how bad the heroin and opioid abuse issue has gotten in Maryland.

A little over 400 people died last year. In a state with about 6 million people.

0.007%

I won't deny more treatment is needed, but in reality, what can this "task force" accomplish?
 

sockgirl77

Well-Known Member
A little over 400 people died last year. In a state with about 6 million people.

0.007%

I won't deny more treatment is needed, but in reality, what can this "task force" accomplish?

Better communication and education about the issue in the state?
 

sockgirl77

Well-Known Member
Trust me, I'm fully aware. I asked you how do you feel he is going to do a great job?

Do I really have to explain why I think that he'll do a good job? Tim Cameron has been a wonderful sheriff. He has done very well for this county. He's concerned enough to join the task force. How many other local sheriffs are on the task force?
 

Chris0nllyn

Well-Known Member
Better communication and education about the issue in the state?

Both are good things, but is this task force going to recommend more state money go toward treatment instead of locking people up?

Are they going to use state money (while at the same time claiming the state is broke and needs cuts), or are they going to use federal money?

I guess I'm just a little disappointed that a "conservative" feels the need to create more government.
 

rdytogo

New Member
Both are good things, but is this task force going to recommend more state money go toward treatment instead of locking people up?

Are they going to use state money (while at the same time claiming the state is broke and needs cuts), or are they going to use federal money?

I guess I'm just a little disappointed that a "conservative" feels the need to create more government.

How would anyone, including the members of the task force know what they are going to recommend until they examine the problem?

Isn't the purpose of the task force to meet with the stake holders and to determine a better course of action than the last administration had?

You definately are minimizing the 400 deaths. I don't know about you, but that, while a small percentage of our population is a huge number.

This problem has become a big problem. If the course of action remains the same, the problem will only get bigger.

As for the other guy who asked why Cameron will do a good job. I would say past preformance is an indicator of future results. The sheriff has proven his critical thinking skills and I believe will only enhance this task force.
 

Chris0nllyn

Well-Known Member
How would anyone, including the members of the task force know what they are going to recommend until they examine the problem?

Isn't the purpose of the task force to meet with the stake holders and to determine a better course of action than the last administration had?

You definately are minimizing the 400 deaths. I don't know about you, but that, while a small percentage of our population is a huge number.

This problem has become a big problem. If the course of action remains the same, the problem will only get bigger.

As for the other guy who asked why Cameron will do a good job. I would say past preformance is an indicator of future results. The sheriff has proven his critical thinking skills and I believe will only enhance this task force.

What is there to examine? That people are using heroin? That most users started using opiates via legal, prescription meds?

What "better" course of action can they take?

I'm not minimizing it. More people died via suicide than heroin overdoses. Where's the suicide task force? If this heroin problem were the "epidemic" people make it seem like, why aren't these heroin deaths outnumbering suicide, or auto accidents, or a number of other factors?

http://dhmh.maryland.gov/vsa/Documents/13annual.pdf

The course of action WILL remain the same because the only option is to continue to arrest and charge users. Unless you believe this task force will recommend the state and federal govt. do something about the legality of heroin.

If you want to use St. Mary's as an indicator, these numbers were provided by Sheriff Cameron earlier this month.
Statistics provided by Cameron and Alioto show heroin arrests doubled in St. Mary’s County from 2013 to 2014 (15 vs. 31), and although lethal overdoses declined from 5 to 3, non-lethal overdoes rose from 3 to 5. The statistics showed a precipitous decline in prescription drug overdose deaths from 2011 to 2013, hitting just one in 2013, showing the switch to the cheaper, easier to secure heroin. But in 2014 the prescription drug deaths rose to two, indicating that problem has not gone away.

And according to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene:
The largest number of heroin-related deaths continue to occur in Central Maryland (including the Baltimore Metro area), which experienced a 47% increase. Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore have also seen substantial increases of 54% and 80%, respectively.

http://bha.dhmh.maryland.gov/OVERDO...ewideOverdoseDeathTrendFactsheetFINAL (5).pdf

So, will this task force recommend more arrests? More treatment? Education? All things already pushed by MDHMH for years now.

What will this task force accomplish in the narrow scope of items they can change?
 

rdytogo

New Member
What is there to examine? That people are using heroin? That most users started using opiates via legal, prescription meds?

What "better" course of action can they take?

I'm not minimizing it. More people died via suicide than heroin overdoses. Where's the suicide task force? If this heroin problem were the "epidemic" people make it seem like, why aren't these heroin deaths outnumbering suicide, or auto accidents, or a number of other factors?

http://dhmh.maryland.gov/vsa/Documents/13annual.pdf

The course of action WILL remain the same because the only option is to continue to arrest and charge users. Unless you believe this task force will recommend the state and federal govt. do something about the legality of heroin.

If you want to use St. Mary's as an indicator, these numbers were provided by Sheriff Cameron earlier this month.


And according to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene:


http://bha.dhmh.maryland.gov/OVERDO...ewideOverdoseDeathTrendFactsheetFINAL (5).pdf

So, will this task force recommend more arrests? More treatment? Education? All things already pushed by MDHMH for years now.

What will this task force accomplish in the narrow scope of items they can change?

First, here is the answer to your question about suicides. That's a simple search, you really shouldn't pose a seemingly rhetorical question without knowing the answer.

Secondly, you ask a lot of questions, but seem to ignore that the answer to these questions can be found by including all stakeholders.

You appear to be focused on treatment. That very well may be an outcome of this task force findings. More treatment is needed, or preventative measures. You really don't know until the issue is looked at from all perspectives.



http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/26excom/html/33suicide.html
 

Chris0nllyn

Well-Known Member
First, here is the answer to your question about suicides. That's a simple search, you really shouldn't pose a seemingly rhetorical question without knowing the answer.

Secondly, you ask a lot of questions, but seem to ignore that the answer to these questions can be found by including all stakeholders.

You appear to be focused on treatment. That very well may be an outcome of this task force findings. More treatment is needed, or preventative measures. You really don't know until the issue is looked at from all perspectives.



http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/26excom/html/33suicide.html

You're correct, there is a suicide commission under the DHMH. Not a "task force", but for the sake of arguing, it's the same.

This was their last 2 year plan.
http://dlslibrary.state.md.us/publications/Exec/DHMH/MHA/EXORD01.01.2009.13E_2012.pdf

How much of that has come to fruition? Outside of literally making recommendations, there's not much they can, nor will do.

Now factor in the fact that heroin is illegal, what in the world can this task force seriously accomplish?

Hogan was elected to solve fiscal issues, not create a personal crusade because his relative died of a heroin. Between the literally hundreds of political appointments to various positions and creating meaningless task forces, where's the conservatism? Where's the cost savings? Simply taking money from the federal govt. and not using state money (so far) is not conservatism, and not why folks like me voted for him.

I'm just confused on why you, or anyone believes this task force is somehow better at looking "from all perspectives" than any other state agency that focuses on drug use, and has for decades.

You've essentially said, "yea, we need the task force for whatever reason they deem they are necessary".
 

rdytogo

New Member

rdytogo

New Member
Hogan was elected to solve fiscal issues, not create a personal crusade because his relative died of a heroin. Between the literally hundreds of political appointments to various positions and creating meaningless task forces, where's the conservatism? Where's the cost savings? Simply taking money from the federal govt. and not using state money (so far) is not conservatism, and not why folks like me voted for him.

Other's would argue that this was due to a campaing promise. This is not the only issue the governor is working on. I believe the McLaughlin family and 399 other families in Maryland, as well as thousands of others welcome this task force. 400 deaths may not be important to you, but check with any ER doctor and ask them if this is a good idea. I would venture to guess the vast majority would welcome this group.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ)–Governor Hogan makes good on a promise to get a handle on Maryland’s heroin problem.
 
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