The numbers are staggering. Seven people have died and at least 34 others have overdosed on heroin in Harford County since Jan. 1.
Harford County Sheriff's deputies have also administered the anti-opiate NARCAN, used to reverse the potentially lethal side effects of an overdose, 16 times to save lives.
The staggering numbers prompted the recent creation of Sheriff's Office work group, HOPE for Harford, to address overdose prevention. HOPE stands for Heroin Overdose Prevention and Enforcement.
As it continues to grapple with the effects of the county's burgeoning heroin overdose crisis, the Harford County Sheriff's Office hopes more involvement and suggestions from the community can help it combat the problem.
"We want to determine what's the next best step," Cristie Kahler, spokesperson for the sheriff's office, said Wednesday. "To do that, we want to include all facets of the community. They will look at the next things we can do to help in prevention efforts, what more can we be doing in enforcement efforts. We want to get the community involved in guiding the future steps."
Since taking office Dec. 1, Sheriff Jeff Gahler has implemented new protocols for how overdoses are investigated, sending drug task force detectives to each overdose call.
Deputies have been trained in how to administer NARCAN, and they distribute cards to overdose victims with information where they can get help.
"HOPE for Harford will be a key tool in developing public safety solutions to the issues we are facing," Gahler said in a statement.
The Sheriff's Office sent out community announcements seeking volunteers for the 12-member work group, which will meet for the first time on Wednesday, April 22, at 6 p.m. in the Sheriff's Office headquarters at 45 N. Main St. in Bel Air. Meetings are open to the public, Kahler said, but participation is limited to the group members, who will be announced at the first meeting.
Gahler is chair of the group. Erik Robey, of the sheriff's office's Office of Community and Legislative Affairs, will be the coordinator and facilitator.
The group will meet regularly, two to three times a month for the first few months, Kahler said. Members will transition into break-out groups and meet to discuss special projects.
"The goals are to examine all aspects of protocols and processes of law enforcement and allied services, in an effort to reduce and prevent heroin overdoses in Harford County," she said. "We expect to release a report to the community on the progress of the group by the end of the year."
The use of heroin is not only a public health concern, it's also an issue affecting crime and safety in Harford neighborhoods, according to the Sheriff's Office, which noted bringing the community together is a critical part of ending heroin use and investigating the dealers.
Anyone with questions about the work group can contact Robey, 443-567-7100 or by email at Robeye@harfordsheriff.org.