May 24, 2022

Credit: Conduit Street, D’Paul Nibber

Initially awarded in 2021 with the help of Congressman David Trone, Garrett is the recipient of a five-year CARA grant worth $50,000 per year. The grant has supported the county’s Drug-Free Communities Coalition program, charged with reducing and preventing substance abuse by promoting youth substance abuse prevention strategies. The program includes members of the county’s “health department, the Garrett Regional Medical Center, Community Action, Parole and Probation, Juvenile Services, State’s Attorney’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, Public Schools, media, faith community, and other community advocates.”

Sandy Miller, Project Director and Director of the Substance Abuse Prevention Unit at the Garrett County Health Department, had discussed how the funding would impact the county’s youth community in a 2021 press release:

“We are pleased to have received this competitive grant which will help us continue to provide drug prevention services to Garrett County,” said Director Miller. “This funding will allow us to equip members of the Drug-Free Communities Coalition, Youth in Action Teams, and Community Planning Groups to change the culture and context regarding the acceptability of drug use, including methamphetamines.”

CARA grants help prevent and reduce the use of opioids or methamphetamines and the misuse of prescription medications among youth ages 12-18 in communities throughout the United States. The CDC, operating under HHS, administers local Drug Crises Grants with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). According to ONDCP, $3.2 million in grants were awarded to partners this year. Only one other entity in Maryland, Mosaic Community Services, Inc., located in Worcester County, received a CARA Local Drug Crisis grant.

Learn more about the CARA Local Drug Crises program.

Read the 2021 Garrett County Health Department press release.

Listen to Congressman David Trone discuss the opioid epidemic on the Conduit Street Podcast.