Wicomico County Opens Safe Station with 24/7 Recovery Services
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Johnson
(410) 219-3947 (Office)
(410) 251-5379 (Cell)
Wicomico County Opens Safe Station with 24/7 Recovery Services
(September 16, 2019, Salisbury, MD) On August 1, 2019, the Wicomico County Health Department in partnership with the City of Salisbury Fire Department, Hudson Health Services, and the Recovery Resource Center launched the county’s first Safe Station in an attempt to link individuals battling addiction to appropriate treatment and recovery services. The project received funding from Mid-Shore Behavioral Health, Inc. and their unwavering support has allowed this innovative program to assist 19 individuals in linkages to treatment services here in Wicomico County.
Open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, the Safe Station ensures that individuals have access to services when they determine that they are ready to do so. Slightly different than other Safe Station programs throughout the state, Wicomico County’s Safe Station is housed within the Recovery Resource Center in Salisbury, MD. “Having the Safe Station housed within a building that supports those who struggle with addiction will hopefully breakdown any barriers that may keep individuals from utilizing this beneficial resource,” says Christina Bowie-Simpson Wicomico County Opioid Coordinator. “In the first quarter of 2019, Wicomico County saw a reduction of two lives lost to overdose when compared to the first quarter of 2018, and we are optimistic that by implementing this additional resource in our community that we will continue to see a reduction in lives being lost here in our community,” says, Lori Brewster, Wicomico County Health Officer.
This program ensures that individuals seeking treatment and recovery services at the Safe Station are met with caring and empathetic individuals who have knowledge of the disease of addiction, and understand what the individual may be experiencing upon entry. Each person who enters the Safe Station will be met by a peer in recovery from Wicomico County’s Community Outreach Addiction Team (COAT). They will then be evaluated for any medical concerns by the EMTs and Paramedics on duty at the Salisbury Fire Department, before being linked to treatment services.
For more information on the Safe Station project or recovery and treatment resources please contact the Wicomico County Opioid Coordinator at (410) 219-3956, or the Wicomico County Community Outreach Addictions Team (COAT) at (443) 783-6875.