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This week's article is about 2 men who recently graduated from Carroll County’s Adult Drug Treatment Court. Family and friends and state and county officials filled the room to celebrate and to praise the program that offers a range of treatment services as an alternative to jail time. Drug Treatment Court is an intensive program lasting a minimum of 13 months that creates individualized treatment plans for participants as they submit to regular drug screenings and court appearances and are monitored by a probation agent and case manager.

This week's article addresses the Maryland Cannabis Administration, (MCA), and cannabis use disorder, CUD. To read the full article discussing these two subjects, please click on the following link: Beyond the high: Diving into Maryland’s cannabis data – CNS Maryland.

This week's article highlights Appalachia Opioid Remediation, AOR. Here's the link to AOR's newsletters: AOR Newsletter - Appalachia Opioid Remediation Database

Here's the link to the full article relating to buprenorphine: Fighting the Opioid Crisis in the ED | Psychiatric News

The article address the "illegal drug", nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide is a gas that young adults and teenagers are becoming more susceptible to "huffing". The term, "huffing" refers to inhaling fumes or gases that are addictive. A harmful resource that young adults and adolescents gravitate to is social media, and the social media platforms are displaying the effects of "huffing" nitrous oxide and other addictive gases. Read more below to learn more about the "illegal drug", nitrous oxide and the term, "huffing".

*Trigger warning *This article describes the theme of suicide. The article highlights the Jason Foundation. The Jason Foundation is a non-profit organization that promotes education as the major factor to prevention.

The Mason-Dixon Ministerium will host a Good Friday Prayer Service at 11:00am on April 18th at Slateville Presbyterian Church in Delta.

Benzodiazepines like lorazepam and Xanax deliver rapid relief for anxiety and insomnia, yet their addictive grip and brutal withdrawal risks—sometimes deadly—lurk beneath the surface. Widely prescribed to adults 50-64, these "downers" can spark tolerance in weeks and heighten hazards for seniors, urging a deeper look at anxiety’s true triggers over a quick benzo fix.

The article describes the relation between homelessness and drug addiction.

The article focuses on the theme of human trafficking, and the statistics that explain the number of victims and cases that have been associated with human trafficking or sexual violence in the state of Maryland and Pennsylvania. The article highlights The National Human Trafficking Hotline: Home | National Human Trafficking Hotline) as well as the terminology for Human Trafficking. Human trafficking is a term that refers to both sex work and other forms of exploitation, including forced labor. Additionally, the article references ACEs, Adverse Childhood Experiences. Adverse Childhood Experiences (or ACEs), can be a catalyst for trafficking.

Our next distribution of casserole pans for Our Daily Bread will be held after the Masses on March 8th and 9th while supplies last.

The article discusses the relationship between high-potency THC products and how they are plausible to cause psychological effects such as dependency, cognitive impairments, and adverse effects, such as anxiety, paranoia, and psychosis. The higher dosage of THC leads to more health issues, addiction of other drugs, an increase in violence, and more. There is also an increase in the number of individuals who are becoming addicted and having harmful, psychological effects to their bodies. Read more below to learn about how F.D.A. is attempting to limit the dosage in the THC and controlling the psychologic effects of high-potency products.

Family members of the Sackler family who own OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, and the company agreed to pay $7.4 billion in a new settlement to lawsuits over the toll of the strong prescription painkiller. The deal replaces a previous settlement deal that was rejected last year by the U.S. Supreme Court. Attorney General JB McCuskey from West Virginia agreed to the deal but had cruel words for the company and to its owners. The new settlement could close a chapter in a legal drama over the toll of an opioid crisis that a few experts believe began after OxyContin hit the market in 1996. Opioids have been connected to hundreds of thousands of deaths in the U.S. While the settlement will not bring the Sackler family financial ruin, members of the Sackler family have been cast as foes and have seen their name removed from art galleries and universities around the globe because of their role in the privately-held company. The Sackler family continued to deny claims of any problematic instances. Read more about this settlement deal here: Purdue Pharma, Sackler family members reach new opioid settlement | AP News.

Thanks to everyone who donated casseroles, we've successfully made our February delivery of casseroles to ODB. Next ODB distribution of casserole pans will be after Masses on 3/8/25-3/9/25

The article highlights that there has been an increase in deaths related to alcohol. The CDC has reported tgat the best remedy to cure alcohol abuse and alcoholism is sobriety. Researchers have proven that decrease the amount of alcohol intake assists with your health in a positive way. Ex: lower blood pressure, better liver function, and "a better quality of life." The article explains the term, "soberish", which is the term defined as limiting one's alcohol intake and being more aware of its effects on one's mood and health. In other words, it means to be more mindful of one's drinking, alcohol consumption, and to stay away from alcohol altogether.

In 2024, there was a decrease in teen deaths that were associated with drug overdoses as well as a decrease in teen vaping. A recent natural survey conducted that teen drug addiction has not ricocheted since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. Twenty-four thousand students from middle school and high school through the grades 8,10, and 12 across the country, were examined and the results displayed a significant decrease of exposure to drugs and a strong decline in the number of students using alcohol or various drugs.

Highlighting the economically effects of drug use and drug relapses in the United States. The article provides the exemplary state of Kentucky, specifically the city, Louisa. Over a million individuals in the US are arrested each year due to drug-related circumstances, and it can be more challenging to get back on their feet instead of the side-affects that come with the drug relapses.Kentucky has more residential treatment beds per person than all the other 49 states in the country. The program, Addiction Recovery Care (ARC), whose motto is “Crisis to Career,” has treated tens of thousands of people in addiction since its founding in 2008. Read more to learn about the impacts of drug use and recovery rates in Kentucky and the U.S.

Thank you to all parishioners who donated groceries and money for th ODB Thanksgiving and Christmas Food projects!

This article explores the new security enhancements in Harford County schools and the non-invasive procedures that the schools are taking to prevent issues and implement security procedures.