Rutherford Talks About Progress, Plans In Addressing Opioid Crisis

RadioOnFire.com - Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford on Thursday announced new initiatives to expand drug use prevention and treatment, as well as a new executive order from Gov. Larry Hogan to study mental and behavioral health in Maryland.

"Virtually any third grader can tell you how unhealthy cigarettes are for you, but they can't tell you how dangerous it is to take someone else's medications," Rutherford told Brett Hollander after the announcement made at Helping Up Mission in East Baltimore.

Rutherford said the administration's approach also focuses on naloxone, outreach to inmates in Maryland's jails, and expanded access to treatment facilities.

In his first term, Hogan declared a state of emergency for the opioid epidemic, investing more than $800 million to address the crisis. Rutherford announced $500 million in additional funding planned for the 2019 fiscal year. That includes increased funds for substance use disorder service, $127 million for existing non-Medicaid addiction programs and $378 million for the design and construction of a specialized treatment center in Baltimore City to serve nonviolent offenders.

Hogan's executive order establishes a commission to be chaired by Rutherford and including representatives from all branches of state government, as well as the Maryland State Police, the Maryland Insurance Administration, the Opioid Operational Command Center and six members of the public with mental healt-related experience. The members will be tasked with studying mental health in Maryland, including access to services and the link between mental health issues and substance use disorders.

The state is also using $66 million in federal grant funding over the next two years to fund prevention, treatment and recovery efforts. Health Secretary Bobby Neall also announced legislation to help fund construction of recovery residences in qualified poverty areas.

“It is estimated that nearly one in four Marylanders experience mental health or substance abuse challenges serious enough to require treatment,” Neall said in a statement. “I am pleased with today’s announcement of the Executive Order and the additional resources that the administration is directing towards improving mental health and substance use disorder services in our State.”