South County Bridges to a Drug Free Community
Become part of something that’s making a change and a difference in our community.
Our Mission
- Improve life pathways for a healthy community
- Prevent youth substance abuse
- Increase awareness and educate the community
- Promote individual neighborhood’s social, economic, spiritual, and emotional healing processes
Our Vision
We envision Southern Anne Arundel County as a whole community free of substance abuse.
Our Goals
- Decrease underage drinking, prescription drugs and marijuana usage
- Educate and provide education to parents, youth and community organizations
- Provide media advocacy
- Implement awareness activities
- Ensure liquor establishments check for ID and pass compliance checks
South County Bridges Events
Governor Larry Hogan Declares Overdose Awareness Week in Maryland
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Reaffirming the administration’s goal of preventing substance abuse and overdose deaths, Governor Larry Hogan today issued a statewide proclamation declaring the week of Sunday, August 30, to Saturday, September 5, to be Overdose Awareness Week in Maryland.
“The toll that addiction and overdose deaths have taken on our communities, state, and region has been devastating,” Governor Hogan said. “Our administration is committed to finding the best and most effective solutions to this crisis, and our Heroin and Opioid Emergency Task Force is hard at work developing comprehensive strategies to address this problem. I encourage all Marylanders to come together during Overdose Awareness Week, to support all of our families and citizens suffering from addiction and substance abuse.”
In 2014, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) reported 1,039 drug- and alcohol-related overdose deaths in the state. “Overdose Awareness Week highlights the significance of this public health crisis and seeks to create public awareness of the damage addiction and drug abuse inflicts on our families and communities,” Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford said.
Earlier this week, the Heroin & Opioid Emergency Task Force, chaired by the Lt. Governor, released its interim report.
During Overdose Awareness Week, communities will host such events as candlelight vigils, public art installations, and public hearings. The DHMH’s Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) will host a naloxone conference to bring together stakeholders who work on overdose education and naloxone distribution in the state to share information on regulations and tools such as the state’s Overdose Response Program.
Local jurisdictions and DHMH will coordinate additional events throughout the week. For more information about Overdose Awareness Week in Maryland, contact DHMH at 410-402-8590. For more information on the tools Maryland is using to battle our region’s substance abuse epidemic, visit DHMH’s website at www.dhmh.maryland.gov.
Protect Your Family From the Opioid Crisis
Join us as we explore ways you can protect your family from an opioid addiction. We will also recommend resources to use if a loved one needs help to overcome their addiction.
Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/protect-your-family-from-the-opioid-crisis-edgewater-library-registration-44642640339
There will be a “Not My Child” program event regarding substance misuse in our community on August 29, 2018 at 6:30 pm at Friendship United Methodist Church – 22 Friendship Rd, Friendship, MD 20758.
Please come out and increase your awareness of this fatal epidemic – it affects all communities.
Are you concerned that your child might be experiencing with drugs or addicted to drugs? Do you want to be prepared to teach your younger children never to start using? Are you looking for help with treatment?
“Not My Child” is a special presentation to remove the stigma of heroin addiction and get help for families caught in the web of drugs. This presentation will include a panel of experts, question and answer from the audience and treatment providers ready to provide information and referral.
“Not My Child” is focused on providing awareness by providing the facts of abuse of prescription drugs and the escalation of heroin use in our communities. The Not My Child discussion taking place in our communities provides an open, honest conversation regarding the use of drugs by children and adults in every community, the issue does not discriminate.
“Not My Child” is a collaborative effort supported by multiple county agencies, non-profits and community members working together to educate parents, families and communities on the impact of addiction on the individual, family and community.
The “Not My Child” program is created, supported and facilitated by County Executive’s Office of Constituent Services.
Areas We Serve
Our Team
Coalition Co-Chairs – Barbara Studer-Baer & Jim Zsiga
Coalition Co- Coordinators – Brian Hinman & Justine Maas
Our Members Include
AA County Board of License Commissioners
AA County Community Action Agency
AA County Department of Health
AA County Executive’s Office of Constituent Services
AA County Partnership for Children, Youth and Families
AA County Police Department
AA County Public Schools
Anne Arundel Community College
Chesapeake Center for Youth Development
Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney
Community Members
Department of Juvenile Services
Faith Based Services
Pathways Treatment Facility
State Highway Administration
The IMPACT Society
Transforming the Community
